By Thaimu T Kamara
The Government of Sierra Leone has announced an increase in the national minimum wage from NLe 800 to NLe 1,200, effective April 2026, alongside plans to extend social security coverage to workers in the informal sector.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, during the three-day Salone civic festival, organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education in Freetown.
Addressing public concerns over the rising cost of living, Minister Swaray said President Dr. Julius Maada Bio had acknowledged that the current minimum wage no longer reflects economic realities. He noted that, following the President’s directive, the Ministry engaged employers and social partners nationwide in extensive consultations to review and renegotiate the wage structure.
Beyond the wage adjustment, the Minister outlined government plans to expand social protection through the national social security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT). He explained that NASSIT currently covers only the formal sector, which represents about 9 percent of the population, leaving the majority of workers without social security protection.
According to minister Swaray, the informal sector accounts for nearly 70 percent of Sierra Leone’s population, including traders, commercial bike riders, tailors, fishermen, market women, and other self-employed individuals who are currently outside the NASSIT framework.
He said the government is working to bridge this gap by extending NASSIT coverage to informal sector workers, in line with President Bio’s inclusive development agenda.
The minister emphasized that bringing informal workers into the social security system is critical to protecting them against economic shocks and long-term vulnerability, noting that they play a central role in national productivity and economic resilience.
The minimum wage increase, together with the planned expansion of NASSIT coverage, marks a significant shift toward inclusive labour and social protection policies in Sierra Leone, aimed at improving livelihoods .
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 12th January 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
