The revaluation of the Guaranteed Interprofessional Minimum Wage (SMIG) in Ivory Coast has caused a lot of ink to flow. Indeed, on January 1, 2023, the monthly minimum salary increased from 60,000 CFA francs to 75,000 CFA francs, an increase of 25%. However, despite this increase, many workers believe that the SMIG remains insufficient, in particular because of the surge in prices which impacts their purchasing power.
This situation is illustrated by the poignant testimony of a 42-year-old security agent, who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. Despite his yellow uniform and his essential role of ensuring the safety of vehicles in front of an insurance company, he only receives a net salary of 92,000 CFA francs. This amount also includes a mandatory transportation bonus, which his employer took time to put in place.
Unfortunately, this remuneration no longer allows him to meet daily expenses. With prices on the market constantly increasing, the cost of living is becoming more and more difficult to bear. Housing in particular is a significant expense, with minimum rents around 40,000 CFA francs per month. Thus, despite the increase in the minimum wage, the salary of this security agent does not allow him to provide for the needs of his family.
To try to make ends meet, this man relies on the generosity of users who give him a few coins or a ticket when collecting their car. This allows him to earn between 30,000 and 40,000 additional CFA francs per month, almost half of his salary. However, he laments having to get by at work, trying to save some coins for food expenses.
The situation becomes even more complicated when exceptional expenses arise, such as tuition fees. This father has not yet registered his 10-year-old daughter in school for the 2023 school year. He is doing everything possible so that she can take her 6th grade entrance exam, but his financial difficulties make the task very complicated.
It is important to emphasize that despite the revaluation of the SMIG, many companies continue not to respect this legal minimum. Unions are fighting against this phenomenon, but they also face repression from those who dare to denounce these practices. Their demand is clear: an increase in the minimum wage indexed to inflation. However, it should be remembered that the SMIG only concerns a minority of workers, more than 93% of the active population working in the informal sector where labor law is rarely applied.
In conclusion, although the minimum wage in Côte d’Ivoire has been increased, many workers believe that it remains insufficient in the face of rising prices.. This situation highlights the financial difficulties faced by many families and underlines the importance of better enforcement of labor laws to guarantee decent living conditions for all workers.