Algiers, January 14, 2026 – The recently announced increase to Algeria’s national minimum wage has officially come into effect. A presidential decree, number 26-01 dated January 7, 2026, and published in the latest edition of the Official Gazette, formalizes the new guaranteed minimum wage.
The decree stipulates a significant increase to the national guaranteed minimum wage, raising it from 20,000 Algerian dinars to 24,000 Algerian dinars. This increase represents a notable improvement in the financial well-being of low-income workers across the country.
Specifically, the decree outlines that the national guaranteed minimum wage, corresponding to a standard legal working week of forty hours (equivalent to 173.33 hours per month), is now set at twenty-four thousand dinars (24,000 DZD) per month. This translates to an hourly rate of approximately 138.46 dinars.
The decree also states that all provisions contradicting this new legislation are hereby revoked. This includes, in particular, Presidential Decree number 21-137, dated Sha’ban 24, 1442 (corresponding to April 7, 2021), which previously defined the national guaranteed minimum wage. The new decree is retroactive, taking effect from January 1, 2026.
DZWatch understands that the issuance of this decree follows a decision made by the Council of Ministers in late November of last year to raise the national guaranteed minimum wage. The government hopes this measure will help to mitigate the impact of rising living costs and improve the purchasing power of Algerian citizens.
