By: Aminata Sesay
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has officially ratified a groundbreaking agreement to establish a unified digital system for managing work and residency permits. The initiative, signed between the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in collaboration with Construct System Limited, marks a major milestone in the country’s push toward digital governance and labor reform.
The newly ratified digital system is designed to automate the issuance, management, and monitoring of work and residence permits. It is expected to improve data collection, increase government revenue, and strengthen national security by efficiently tracking undocumented foreign workers.
Presenting the agreement to Parliament on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, described the initiative as transformative.
“We are stepping into the future of labor governance with our national interest at the center,” he said. “This system will digitize every stage of the foreign employment process application, vetting, approval, and monitoring in real time.”
Minister Swaray revealed that over 70% of foreign nationals currently working in Sierra Leone are undocumented. The new digital platform will integrate with the Immigration Department to verify legal status and ensure that foreign labor does not displace qualified Sierra Leonean workers.
Financially, the system is projected to generate more than \$10 million annually. Under a revenue-sharing model, the government will initially receive 50% of the proceeds, with its share increasing to 60%, and eventually 65% over time. “This agreement is legally sound, transparent, and nationally coordinated,” Swaray emphasized.
The agreement received overwhelming bipartisan support. Hon. Rebecca Yei Kamara, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Employment, expressed concern about undocumented foreign workers, particularly from some Asian countries, occupying low-skilled jobs.
“This digitalization will help us track who is here and what they are doing,” she said. “No one should work in this country without proper documentation.”
Hon. Marray Conteh, Chair of the Legislative Committee, commended the move as a step forward for digital inclusion. “To be active participants in the global economy, we must embrace digital tools,” he noted. “This system will boost service delivery and improve revenue collection.”
Acting Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Tamba Kelly, also welcomed the initiative, praising Minister Swaray’s leadership and describing the agreement as a vital reform. He called for strict oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse and ensure transparency.
Supporting the motion, Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, emphasized the system’s potential to enhance national security and financial accountability. “This is not just about issuing work permits,” he said. “It’s about knowing who is in our country and ensuring they are not a threat.”
With Parliament’s ratification secured, implementation of the digital work and residency permit system will begin immediately. The initiative is expected to improve investor confidence, modernize labor management, and drive Sierra Leone’s broader digital transformation agenda.
As Minister Swaray concluded, “Let us boldly ratify to digitize our borders. Let us decisively ratify to defend our jobs.”