Sierra Leone’s Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has held high-level discussions with the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
During the meeting, Minister Swaray expressed appreciation to the ILO for inviting Sierra Leone to participate in the conference and congratulated the Director-General and member states on the adoption of the Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy and the Transformative Agenda for Gender Equality at Work. He described both initiatives as significant milestones in advancing workers’ rights, promoting decent work, and fostering more inclusive workplaces globally.
The Minister also briefed the ILO Director-General on Sierra Leone’s successful hosting of the Second National Labour Conference and Social Dialogue Forum in Freetown. The forum brought together representatives from government, employers’ organizations, workers’ unions, and other key stakeholders to discuss critical labour and employment issues affecting the country.
Discussions during the meeting highlighted Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts to strengthen labour governance through the ratification of key ILO conventions, the review of national labour laws, and the promotion of decent work, social dialogue, and tripartite cooperation among government, employers, and workers.
Minister Swaray further conveyed his best wishes to Mr. Houngbo regarding his bid for re-election as Director-General of the International Labour Organization.
As part of efforts to deepen cooperation between Sierra Leone and the ILO, the Minister requested technical and financial support for the conduct of a National Labour Force Survey, which would provide critical labour market data to guide policymaking, employment planning, and workforce development initiatives.
He also sought ILO assistance in institutionalizing the National Labour Conference and Social Dialogue Forum as a permanent platform for consultation and engagement among social partners in Sierra Leone. According to the Minister, establishing the forum on a permanent basis would strengthen labour relations, enhance social cohesion, and promote consensus-driven approaches to addressing employment challenges.
The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between Sierra Leone and the ILO and underscored the Government’s commitment to advancing labour reforms, promoting decent work opportunities, and strengthening social dialogue as key pillars of sustainable national development.