FREETOWN — Sierra Leone will raise its national minimum wage to 1,200 new leones ($) from 800, effective April 2026, the government said on Friday, citing rising living costs and the need to improve workers’ welfare.
The announcement was made by Labour, Employment and Social Security Minister Mohamed Rahman Swarray during a civic engagement forum organised by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education.
“The President, Julius Maada Bio, recognises that the current minimum wage is not sufficient for people to meet basic needs,” Swarray said. “Despite global economic challenges, workers deserve better compensation for their labour. After extensive negotiations with employers, we agreed on a new minimum wage of 1,200 new leones.”
Swarray said the revised wage would serve as a baseline, encouraging employers with greater capacity to pay above the minimum.
The government’s decision comes amid growing pressure from workers and labour groups over inflation and declining purchasing power. Sierra Leone, like many developing economies, has been grappling with the effects of global economic shocks, currency depreciation and high food prices.
The labour minister also outlined reforms aimed at improving job security and inclusion, particularly within the informal sector, which employs the majority of Sierra Leone’s workforce. He said the ministry was expanding its Trade Testing Unit to formally assess and certify skills of artisans such as carpenters and other vocational workers, many of whom lack formal education.
“This allows them to seek formal employment or operate confidently as certified entrepreneurs,” Swarray said, adding that the programme supports the government’s broader agenda of inclusive growth.
Addressing youth unemployment, Swarray said field assessments showed many young people earn as little as 150 new leones per day, underscoring the scale of informality and income insecurity. He said the ministry was working with other government agencies to extend social security and protection schemes to informal workers.
A new social protection programme targeting the informal sector is expected to be launched in the first quarter of next year, with implementation to follow shortly after. The initiative will focus on building resilience for women and young people against shocks such as pandemics, natural disasters and economic downturns.
Swarray also said the government was reviewing a policy to convert United Nations volunteer placements into permanent employment opportunities. The proposal is currently before cabinet, he added, as part of efforts to revive volunteerism as a pathway to jobs and national development.
Sierra Leone continues to face high poverty levels following years of crisis, including a civil war, the Ebola outbreak, COVID-19 and the 2017 Freetown mudslide, events officials say have highlighted the need for stronger social safety nets.
By John Fullah
