Minister of Employment, Labour, and Social Security, Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has expanded his inspection and familiarization visit to companies and businesses operating in the provincial areas of Sierra Leone. For months, the Minister has been engaging workers and management across Freetown, and recently, the provinces. Recently, he and his team, comprising the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Directors, and other senior officers of the Labour Ministry, were at Marampa Mines Limited and Sunbird Bioenergy, respectively. The Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Mr. Fuaad Daboh, and other NASSIT officials also accompanied the Minister to ascertain the NASSIT compliance of the companies. Marampa Mines Limited is engaged in the extraction and exportation of Iron Ore, while Sunbird Bioenergy cultivates Sugarcane and produces Ethanol. Both companies currently employ about 10,000 people, the majority of whom are Sierra Leoneans.
The Minister and team held frank discussions with their workers and management, and several challenges were highlighted. He applauded both management for providing such a huge number of jobs, which is a boost to the President’s agenda to create 500,000 jobs for Sierra Leoneans within the current five years. He also applauded them for their community development strides and expressed hope for more developmental projects in the future. The Minister said that in the coming days, officers of the Ministry will engage management on relevant Labour Law obligations and ensure that the challenges raised are addressed swiftly to uphold good industrial relations.
On NASSIT’s part, the DG said that he was so far impressed with the compliance level of both managements in contributing to their staff. However, Mr. Daboh explained that the contribution does not cover only local staff, but expatriate staff as well, “as long as they are being paid salaries here in Sierra Leone.” He pointed out that it is the right of every worker to contribute, adding that action will be taken against employers flouting the NASSIT Act. He said that his team will be on the ground to check and update records from time to time and also to register new employees.
