Sierra Leone Government Raises Minimum Wage From NLe 800 to NLe 1,200

The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has announced an increase in Sierra Leone’s national minimum wage from NLe 800 to NLe 1,200, effective April 2026.
Minister Swaray made the announcement during the three-day Salone Civic Festival, organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on 12 December 2025.

Responding to public concerns about the adequacy of the current minimum wage, the Minister noted that His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio was the first to acknowledge that the existing wage no longer aligns with prevailing economic realities. Acting on the President’s directive, the Ministry engaged employers and social partners nationwide to review and renegotiate the wage structure.
“I am pleased to announce that after months of consultations and negotiations with employers across the country, we have agreed to increase the minimum wage to NLe 1,200 effective April 2026. While this may not fully meet expectations, it will help cushion the economic challenges faced by many citizens,” Minister Swaray stated.