Côte d'Ivoire: Creating a data-driven framework for wage setting

Historically, wage negotiations in Côte d'Ivoire were primarily based on inflation rates and overlooked critical factors such as workers' needs and other important economic factors, including productivity. Over time, this has caused dissatisfaction among workers and employers, particularly in sectors like agriculture, where wage-setting frameworks were either weak or non-existent.

The SAW Project has responded to these challenges by introducing a comprehensive, data-driven framework for wage setting. In particular, the project is providing wage-setting processes with information on the needs of workers and their families and on a broader range of economic indicators, including productivity and macroeconomic factors, resulting in more equitable and transparent wage discussions. By involving key stakeholders—government, employers, and workers—the project drives evidence-based wage setting mechanisms that address workers' needs and economic realities.

Supporting wage setting: data insights from key studies

The SAW project has significantly contributed to Côte d'Ivoire's wage-setting processes by conducting four in-depth studies, each providing crucial data to enhance and refine these mechanisms. These studies form the backbone of a data-driven framework, offering essential insights into the needs of workers and their families, prevailing wages, institutional structures, and collective bargaining practices.

Estimating the needs of workers and their families

In collaboration with the National Statistics Office, the SAW project is undertaking a study to estimate the needs of workers and their families using the ILO methodology. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of living costs in Côte d'Ivoire, enabling the establishment of minimum wages that reflect real-life needs. The findings help ensure that wage levels are informed not only by inflation but also by the fundamental needs of workers and their families, promoting fairer wage standards across various sectors.

Analyzing prevailing wages across sectors

The project is also conducting a detailed analysis of prevailing wages across different sectors, regions, and worker groups. This review identifies gaps between current wages and minimum wages, supplying essential data for setting statutory minimum wages and assessing wage adequacy. By identifying those areas where there are significant wage challenges, this analysis informs future wage policies and supports a more holistic and responsive approach to wage determination.

Mapping institutional aspects of wage setting

Another study focused on mapping the institutional landscape of wage-setting processes in Côte d'Ivoire. This research examines how the current system operates and identifies opportunities for improvement, aiming to make wage-setting mechanisms more efficient and inclusive. By understanding the institutional frameworks involved, this study provides a roadmap for modernizing wage policies and integrating the voices of all stakeholders.

Reviewing collective bargaining practices

Finally, the SAW project reviewed the effectiveness of collective bargaining frameworks in Côte d'Ivoire. By assessing how collective bargaining currently functions and identifying areas for development, the project offers valuable insights for enhancing the capacity of trade unions, employers, and government representatives to negotiate wages. This data-driven approach strengthens the role of collective bargaining in achieving equitable wage outcomes.

By combining these research findings with targeted capacity-building initiatives, the SAW project has equipped stakeholders with the tools to engage in informed wage negotiations. This comprehensive framework paves the way for a more transparent, evidence-based wage-setting process that benefits both workers and employers, fostering economic stability across Côte d'Ivoire.

Collaboration with tripartite constituents and capacity building

The SAW project’s success is driven by the active involvement of tripartite constituents, including government, employers, and workers’ representatives. By participating in the review and approval of the research findings, each constituent gains a better understanding of the data, ensuring that it accurately reflects the needs and economic realities of workers and employers across Côte d'Ivoire. This collaborative validation process fosters a shared sense of ownership among all parties, equipping them with a collective foundation for the 2026 wage negotiations.

Recognizing that effective wage setting requires a solid grasp of wage-setting mechanisms and adherence to ILO standards, the project leverages the evidence obtained through its studies to create specialized training sessions. Conducted by ILO experts, these trainings aim to enhance the understanding of tripartite constituents on critical issues surrounding wage determination. Through these sessions, stakeholders gain insights into global best practices and learn how to apply evidence-based methodologies in their local context, which builds their capacity to advocate for fair wages and implement sustainable wage policies.

Conclusion: a path to regional data-driven wage setting processes

The SAW project in Côte d'Ivoire has laid the groundwork for addressing wage disparities by creating a data-driven framework for wage negotiations. Through comprehensive studies and active engagement of multiple stakeholders, the project is transforming wage-setting mechanisms, ensuring decisions are grounded in reliable data reflecting prevailing wages, the needs of workers and their families, and economic factors.

As the project progresses, its impact is expected to resonate beyond Côte d'Ivoire, setting a precedent for data-driven wage setting processes across West Africa, including in countries like Senegal, Mali, Togo, Benin, Guinea Bissau, Niger and Burkina Faso. By the project’s completion, studies and training programmes will have equipped stakeholders with the knowledge and capacities needed to sustain transparent, evidence-based wage negotiations that contribute to long-term economic improvements and better living standards for workers throughout the region.