20 African countries where workers earn highest minimum wage

Still in the spirit of Workers' Day, Business Insider Africa presents 20 African countries where workers earn highest minimum wage per month.The list consists of countries from across the continent, including small islands like Seychelles and big countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo.Note that this list is courtesy of Statista, the Hamburg-headquartered global leader in markets and consumer data. It is the desire if every employee to do less work and earn more money. After all, who doesn't like to exert minimum effort for maximum enjoyment?! Unfortunately, this is hardly the case for majority of people, especially those working in Africa. As a matter of fact, the reverse is actually the case, as millions of people across the continent earn what can best be described as "poverty pay". READ: 20 best companies for workers in Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa Indeed, African countries have some of the lowest minimum wage rates in the world. Perhaps this shouldn't come as much of a surprise. After all, some of the world's poorest countries are located here. But this notwithstanding, workers in some African countries stand better chance of earning more than others. We shall be focusing on 20 of such countries shortly. But first, let's define minimum wage. READ: 8 best paying jobs in Africa According to Investopedia, a minimum wage is the lowest, statutorily required wage that a worker can earn. In other words, it is illegal for employers to pay employees anything short of the minimum wage as stipulated by a federal law of a given country. Do note that although minimum wages are typically calculated on an hourly rate elsewhere, across many African countries they are calculated and paid monthly. READ: 10 African countries that offer the highest average monthly salaries, according to available stats Below are the African countries with the highest minimum wage, according to available statistics obtained from Statista. The list is arranged in order of relevance. Seychelles has the highest minimum wage in Africa at $432 per month.Libya has the second highest minimum wage in Africa at $322 per month.Morocco comes in third with a minimum wage of $281 per month.Next, we have Gabon with a minimum wage of $256 per month.South Africa offers a monthly minimum wage of $242.Mauritius comes in at number six with a monthly minimum wage of $240.Equatorial Guinea pays workers a minimum wage of $200 per month.Congolese workers earn a monthly minimum wage of $154.Algeria offers a monthly minimum wage of $151.Kenya offers a monthly minimum wage of $140.Carbo Verde offers a monthly minimum wage of $132.Comoros Island pays a monthly minimum wage of $125.Lesotho pays a monthly minimum wage of $112.Mozambique also pays a monthly minimum wage of $112.The Democratic Republic of Congo equally pays $125.Tunisia pays a monthly minimum wage of $110.Chad pays a monthly minimum wage of $102.Ivory Coast's monthly minimum wage is $102.Senegal pays a monthly minimum wage of $94.Lastly, we have Liberia which pays a monthly minimum wage of $91. READ: 5 investments Africans should consider in the second quarter of 2022

May 2, 2022 - 08:30

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20 African countries where workers earn highest minimum wage

Still in the spirit of Workers' Day, Business Insider Africa presents 20 African countries where workers earn highest minimum wage per month.
The list consists of countries from across the continent, including small islands like Seychelles and big countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Note that this list is courtesy of Statista, the Hamburg-headquartered global leader in markets and consumer data.

It is the desire if every employee to do less work and earn more money. After all, who doesn't like to exert minimum effort for maximum enjoyment?! Unfortunately, this is hardly the case for majority of people, especially those working in Africa. As a matter of fact, the reverse is actually the case, as millions of people across the continent earn what can best be described as "poverty pay".

READ: 20 best companies for workers in Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa

Indeed, African countries have some of the lowest minimum wage rates in the world. Perhaps this shouldn't come as much of a surprise. After all, some of the world's poorest countries are located here. But this notwithstanding, workers in some African countries stand better chance of earning more than others. We shall be focusing on 20 of such countries shortly. But first, let's define minimum wage.

READ: 8 best paying jobs in Africa

According to Investopedia, a minimum wage is the lowest, statutorily required wage that a worker can earn. In other words, it is illegal for employers to pay employees anything short of the minimum wage as stipulated by a federal law of a given country. Do note that although minimum wages are typically calculated on an hourly rate elsewhere, across many African countries they are calculated and paid monthly.

READ: 10 African countries that offer the highest average monthly salaries, according to available stats

Below are the African countries with the highest minimum wage, according to available statistics obtained from Statista. The list is arranged in order of relevance.