Minimum Legal Salary: A Global Perspective
In several countries, the minimum legal salary is still very low, sometimes even below €100 per month. This is according to a report published in 2025 by Deel, a platform specializing in international employment.
The minimum salary refers to the legal amount an employee must receive for full-time work. This does not concern freelancers, who set their own rates. If a company recruits someone in another country, it must respect local law, including the minimum salary.
According to Deel, some countries pay their workers well below €500 per month. This is the case, notably, in:
- Uganda: €34
- Sri Lanka: €40
- Nigeria: €41
- Pakistan: €87
- Madagascar: between €56 and €95
- Morocco: €282
- Mauritius: €316
- Indonesia: €24
- Philippines: €242
On the other hand, countries like Denmark, Norway, or Switzerland do not have a minimum salary set by the state. However, this does not mean that salaries are low. In these countries, amounts are often negotiated between unions and employers and remain generally high.
The study converts all salaries into euros, dollars, and local currency to allow for better comparison between countries. It specifies that figures may vary according to regions and that local laws must always be verified.
