By: Mohamed M Sesay
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Sierra Leone Parliament who also doubles as the Chairman for the Committee on Internal Affairs, Hon. Alusine Kanneh, representing the People of Constituency 013 in Kenema District, has strongly urged the Minister of Labour, Alpha Osman Timbo and Labour officials to fully execute and implement the Working Permit Act of 2022. He also urged the Labour Ministry to enforce the Overseas Employment and Migrant Workers Act if passed into law.
The Deputy Chief Whip, Alusine Kanneh, intimated that Sierra Leoneans are suffering at the hands of foreigners because of a lack of adequate implementation of good laws and that they have passed so many laws in the House of Parliament but the implementation of those laws have been a very big challenge over the years.
Deputy Chief Whip disclosed that he has known the Minister of Labour for many years. He stated that he has worked in the corridors of power before and that he is still working in the corridor of power. He intimated that in the days of President Kabba, he was very instrumental in the governance, even though he was not in governance but he used to be close to the Ministers.
“For example, I have a Nephew that was working for a Lebanese man about four years ago, he was abused unfairly, I intervened and then in the end one of your workers in the labour ministry did the wrong thing. Mr. Minister, my Minister’s concern is. Is it possible for you to implement and execute what is before when it is enacted by this house”, he emphasized.
He reiterated that passing bills into law is a difficult task for MPs but he emphasized that the implementation of those laws has been a very big challenging issue over the years.
The Deputy Chief Whip acknowledged that the bill is a very good bill which gears to empower citizens. He recalled that after spending so many years overseas, he realized that their laws are very strong in terms of providing adequate labour protection for their people. He, therefore, encouraged all and sundry in Sierra Leone to reciprocate the same by protecting Sierra Leoneans against foreigners.
He urged the Minister of Labour to implement these laws, and more importantly, make sure that these laws are enforced because he added them as a Member of Parliament.
He reemphasized that good laws are passed but the implementation has been a very big challenge, adding that the Minister brought and that he should make sure these are fully executed for the benefit of the people of Sierra Leone.