By: Mohamed Sahr mohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
Fostering the support of Sierra Leonean migrant Workers within the Middle East, Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security has urged for fair and just treatment for all migrant workers in the Organization of Islamic Country Member States on Thursday 23th November 2024 in Baku Azerbaijan during the 5th Session of the Islamic Conference of Labour Ministers.
Mohamed Rahman Swaray, Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security said one of the ways to foster mutual relationship between Sierra Leone and the IOC member states is to permanently halt the maltreatment of Sierra Leone migrant workers in some of the countries where they work. He expressed that the ministry is privy to the cruel and hard treatment Sierra Leonean migrant workers are undergoing.
Minister Swaray called on the Organization of Islamic Countries to look into the unfortunate situation of maltreatment, breaches of contracts, and other violations.
“We want to appreciate the opportunity afforded to our citizens to work in OIC countries as migrant workers, but we wish to express our concerns about their treatment in some of the countries where they work. We have received reports of ill-treatment, breaches of Contracts, and sundry other violations of their employment and other rights. We call on this body to help remedy these concerns as we look forward to working with the Labour Center to address these and other emerging concerns to achieve our collective aspirations to decent work for all,” Minister Swaray emphasized.
Diving on the theme which is “Innovative Solutions and Digitalization of Labour and Employment”, he commended the organizers for choosing such an appropriate and moretimely theme as the 4th Industrial Revolution is already upon us. Minister Swaray mentioned that Sierra Leone recognizes the ever-increasing role of digitalization for effective service delivery, and has boldly committed to it in President Bio’s Big Five Game Changers in his second term of premiership.
He disclosed that Sierra Leone has secured $50 million from the World Bank to expand internet connectivity, improve digital skills development, and deliver government services digitally, of which the country is sorting on.
Minister Swaray informed the gathering that Sierra Leone as a member of the Committee of 24 Countries on Decolonization and Self-determination of nations of the World and a member of the Committee for the Inalienable Rights of the people of Palestine, continues to call for a two-state solution with determined and secured borders to enable the two nations live side by side in peace and prosperity.
“We are concerned about the deaths of thousands of civilians especially women and children in the Israel/Palestine crisis. We therefore join other nations of the world to call for an immediate ceasefire and for allowing humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza”. He affirmed.
Swaray called for support for Sierra Leone’s digitalization efforts from other OIC member states that have gone ahead.