The Government of Niger has adopted, during a Council of Ministers meeting, a draft decree raising the Guaranteed Interprofessional Minimum Wage (SMIG).
The minimum wage will now increase from 30,047 CFA francs to 42,000 CFA francs (approximately $43 to $74), representing a significant rise of nearly 40%.
This measure directly responds to the demands of social partners and aligns with the broader agenda of social and economic reform promoted by the transitional authorities.
The SMIG, which represents the legal minimum wage in the formal sector, is a key tool for protecting workers in Francophone West Africa. This revaluation aims not only to improve workers’ purchasing power but also to support social cohesion amid an economic context marked by inflation and volatile prices of essential goods.
With this new rate, Niger now comes closer to neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso (45,000 CFA / $79.5) and Mali (40,000 CFA / $70.5), although it still remains below the levels set in Côte d’Ivoire (75,000 CFA / $132.5) and Senegal (64,223 CFA / $113). The decision reflects the government’s commitment to promoting decent working conditions and recognizing the vital role of workers in the country’s economic development.
Furthermore, the Council of Ministers adopted a decree establishing minimum wages by professional category, thereby harmonizing wage scales according to the new hourly SMIG rate, in line with collective labor agreements.