Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has described the 2026 National Labour Congress Conference and Social Dialogue as a critical platform for shaping an inclusive and resilient future of work. He warned that the country must act swiftly to manage both the opportunities and risks associated with digital transformation.
Addressing delegates, Vice President Jalloh noted that while the digital era is creating new opportunities in entrepreneurship, remote work, and innovation, it is also intensifying structural challenges such as informality, skills shortages, gender inequality, and weak digital infrastructure. He cautioned that without deliberate policy interventions, the transition to a digital economy could widen existing inequalities, particularly for young people and women.
He emphasized that many citizens remain excluded from decent work due to limited access to skills training, finance, and technology. However, he stressed that targeted investments in digital capacity and infrastructure could stimulate job creation and economic growth. Jalloh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a “just digital transition,” highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen labour policies, promote social dialogue, empower women, and formalize the informal sector.
Meanwhile, employers used the forum to call for urgent reforms to labour laws to reflect the realities of a rapidly evolving digital workforce. Speaking on behalf of employers, Max K. Conteh stated that emerging technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, and online platforms are transforming employment structures at an unprecedented pace.
Conteh explained that while these technologies boost productivity and create new forms of work, they also present risks, including job displacement and weak labour protections. He pointed out that digital employment ranging from freelancing to app-based services has blurred traditional definitions of employment, with many workers classified as independent contractors despite operating under platform control.
He further noted that irregular incomes and short-term contracts complicate the calculation of end-of-service benefits, often resulting in disputes and non-compliance. Conteh therefore called for the modernization of labour laws, urging policymakers to establish clear employment classifications, strengthen digital record-keeping systems, and develop portable social protection frameworks supported by effective labour inspection.
In a related contribution, Vanessa Phala, representing the International Labour Organization, emphasized the need for a human-centered approach to digital transformation. She argued that technological progress must be aligned with people’s needs and should promote inclusive and decent work, particularly for women and those in the informal economy.
Phala highlighted the importance of aligning skills development with labour market demands, expanding universal social protection, and improving access to finance for small businesses and market women. She also pointed to persistent decent work deficits in the informal sector, including limited protection and weak institutional dialogue.
Reaffirming the ILO’s support, she disclosed that the organization will continue to provide technical and financial assistance to Sierra Leone in areas such as enterprise development, job creation, and formalization strategies. She urged stakeholders to ensure that the dialogue leads to concrete and measurable outcomes.
The conference, held as part of activities marking May Day 2026, brought together policymakers, employers, trade unions, and innovators to map out a path toward a more inclusive and future-ready labour market. Participants collectively emphasized that stronger collaboration and forward-looking reforms will be essential to ensuring that digital transformation results in decent work, poverty reduction, and shared prosperity.