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The Sierra Leone Labour Congress has concluded its May Day 2026 statement by calling for urgent action on taxation, wage enforcement, public infrastructure, and job creation.
The Congress urged the government to implement the PAYE threshold of Le1,200 in line with the national minimum wage, saying workers are facing a “dire economic situation.” It described the move as one way to “ease the burden on the citizens.”
It further stated that the national minimum wage of Le1,200, which took effect in April 2025, should be respected by all employers. According to the Congress, the minimum wage serves as the baseline for calculating PAYE and requires strict compliance across all sectors.
On working conditions, the Labour Congress called for the rehabilitation of public infrastructure, particularly roads and office facilities, to enhance productivity and create decent working environments.
The organisation also reaffirmed support for the government’s target of creating 500,000 jobs, stressing that the private sector must be empowered to lead employment growth. It cited inflation, high interest rates, exchange rate instability, and high taxation as major constraints affecting businesses.
The statement referenced the Gento Group of Companies and the Kent Seaport project as examples of private sector investments capable of generating significant employment opportunities if adequately supported.
The Congress noted that all the issues raised are interconnected, adding that progress in pay harmonisation, labour law enforcement, social security expansion, tax reform, electricity supply, environmental protection, and workers’ education would help build a nation where “decent work is the norm, not the exception.”
The May Day statement was delivered on behalf of workers across Sierra Leone during the national commemoration of International Workers’ Day 2026.
