By: Precious Miracle Kargbo (Intern)
The Sierra Leone labor congress has engaged the Ministry of Labor and social security to adopt new laws and ideas that will enhance more safety on the future and professions of all Sierra Leoneans, on Friday 1st September 2023 at the ministry of labor’s main office in Freetown.
President of the Sierra Leone Labor congress, Mohamed Sallie Bangura said the reason of the meeting with the Ministry, is because of the Ministers background that totally understands the constraint of workers and expresses his greatest satisfaction to meet and explain most of the issues. “So the collaboration with the ministry can continue and the working place to be more convenient for the minister”, he added.
Mr. Bangura maintains “there are number of issues that the congress is faced with but they as a congress will look into the main one and present it to the minister, so that at this point in time we will start to give you our support on how to solve these problems “.
Max Conteh, the secretary General of the Sierra Labor Congress on his presentation to the minister says “there are many issues we need to cooperate with you but one of them as we are starting the process is to congratulate your government after so many years, you have been able to review among the 6, three of them namely the employment act, procurement and the bank Nassit, it is a laudable thing we have one of the best employment act in the world, can we implement them? They are in papers, yes which is good but are we going to ensure the spirit of that one because when you do it then you achieve the objectives of why those laws are set up for. The issue of migrant overseas to seek greener pastures is also a major concern as there are no notifications on their departures but as soon as they encounter problems over there then it becomes a concern for government”, “so I want this ministry to always ensure that the public is informed”. Mr. Conteh maintains.
Max furthers by advising the minister, to find ways which will ensure informal workers to benefit from Nassit. He said “ I can tell you Nassit is just taking like five percent of the population of this country, the mass of workers who are in the economy are not being catered for so I want you as you attain office as the minister to see how recoveries for the informal workers is achieved, health insurance is also an issue that should be within the purview of this ministry and the studies conducted through Nassit for this country because I can vouch to you that the manner in which you want to impose these laws will be resisted strongly because there is no proper studies and research”. He ended up by bringing the attention of the minister to the minimum wages that are being paid by companies to their companies which he says is not encouraging at all.
The minister of Labor, Mohamed Rahman Swarray after listening to the demands and problems of the labor congress maintains that he will ensure under his tenure of leadership that he works with all stakeholders to promote the work of the ministry and initiate holistic approach to initiates the labor laws to all citizens. He says “laws by themselves are useless if not implemented and I will ensure that under my watch all labor laws and regulations are implemented”.
In his closing courtesy, the minister expressed that he is well briefed about the issues and problems brought to his door step by the congress and pledges his willingness on addressing these issues and to work with all agencies and citizens that have questions and comments on any labor laws and implementation strategies, to always feel welcome to the ministry so that they will be able to address these issues and work together to push for development in the country.