Freetown — The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security held a strategic session with Chief Minister Dr Moinina Sengeh to review priorities, identify institutional bottlenecks, and accelerate delivery across the labour and social security sectors. The meeting was part of the government’s wider drive to ensure that ministries are aligned with the Medium-Term National Development Plan and the country’s long-term development vision, while delivering tangible results for citizens.
The Chief Minister, Dr Sengeh, said the government’s delivery clinics offer an important opportunity for ministries to reflect on their plans and agree on concrete deliverables for the next six, 12 and 18 months. He stressed that the discussions should identify implementation obstacles, strengthen inter-ministerial collaboration, and prioritise actions that directly improve livelihoods. Dr Sengeh assured the ministry of continued government support to tackle challenges and advance priority programs that protect workers and expand employment opportunities.
Hon. Umaru Napoleon Koroma, Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, outlined key focus areas of the ministry’s strategic roadmap, including implementing legislation, protecting labour, regulating employment, and strengthening social security systems. Central to the ministry’s agenda is fully implementing the Employment Act, 2023, following years of consultations on labour reforms. The minister said implementation will focus on ensuring workers receive their end-of-service benefits as stipulated by law, promoting the employment of Sierra Leoneans, and requiring employers who employ foreign nationals to incorporate robust knowledge and skills transfer arrangements.
Minister Koroma said two important bills, the Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Safety and Health bills, are before Parliament. He added that the ministry is working with the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice on further legislative reforms that will be tabled for Cabinet and parliamentary consideration in due course.
To turn these priorities into concrete actions to stabilise operations and speed up service delivery, the ministry has developed a First 100 Days Plan. The first 30 days will focus on a diagnostic review of the institution, realignment where necessary, and a public awareness campaign on the provisions of the Employment Act and minimum wage requirements. The next phase will involve more intensive stakeholder engagement and focused education campaigns, particularly for employers who need to understand and comply with statutory obligations. Later stages of the plan will focus on employer mobilisation, improved workplace inspections, and progress on pending legislation.
Another priority is to enhance the National Job Portal. The ministry aims to ensure all public and private employers advertise verified vacancies so job seekers can access legitimate employment opportunities and transparency. This move aims to curb misinformation and provide a reliable platform for matching Sierra Leonean workers with available jobs.
On compliance and enforcement, Minister Koroma said the ministry will initially focus on engagement and education to bring employers into compliance with new legal requirements. After that, the ministry will steadily ramp up workplace inspections and enforcement actions against non-compliant actors. To make inspections more effective, the minister called for more staffing and logistical support for labour inspectors to monitor workplaces, verify compliance with minimum wage and occupational safety standards, and ensure retirees and workers across sectors are protected.
The ministry also outlined a review of overseas recruitment practices after recent incidents of alleged abandonment of Sierra Leonean citizens travelling for jobs in Guinea. The minister said the ministry is reviewing the status and activities of licensed overseas recruitment agencies to tighten regulation and prevent exploitation. We have issued a notice halting certain recruitment practices through Guinea, as investigations into these incidents continue in cooperation with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The meeting with the Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving labour governance, protecting workers’ rights, and ensuring the ministry’s programs contribute meaningfully to national development objectives. Ministers and officials said that cross-government collaboration, adequate resourcing, and sustained engagement with interested parties will be critical to overcoming institutional bottlenecks and delivering measurable improvements in employment conditions and social security for Sierra Leoneans.
