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The Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC) has engaged the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray on work related issues and how the working mechanisms have been set for a perfect service delivery.
The team from the SLLC involving the national executive led by senior members, rolled out their work plan and congratulated the new minister and welcomed him into office. They assured him of their total commitment to work and ensure a positive outcome.
The Labour congress is one of the ministry’s key social partners as the ministry operates in a tripartite approach; that is, the Ministry, the Sierra Leone Employers’ Federation and the Sierra Leone Labour Congress.
Max Conteh, Secretary- General of the SLLC, presented workers-related issues which ranged from Salary disparities, conditions of service for most workers, NASSIT Laws, and non-compliance with the government’s minimum wage for workers.
He urged the minister to urgently spearhead an urgent popularization of the reviewed labour laws so as to hammer them home to every employer and employee, adding that the Employment, Labour and Social Security Ministry is amongst the most important ministries in any state, adding that the country is faced with issues of low productivity because successive governments have failed to lay premium on the ministry responsible for them.
In his response, the minister re-affirmed the President’s commitment to dialogue and work for the good of the country at all times.
He committed to work hand-in-glove with the partners to ensure that they resolve pending labour-related issues and in the area of non-compliance with the payment of minimum wage by employers, the minister said that he would not hesitate to go after any employer who fails to comply with the Government Gazette.
I comend your move towards this issue of the conditions of employees especially. I hope and pray that you put good mechanisms in place in order to improve on the condition of salaries and the minimum wages.
But I want the labor congress to also note that even the current minimum wage is far below the country’s current living conditions. Le 800 as a minimum wage while a bag of rice is now above Le 700, what will you take home? Please the minimum wage should be increased.
Also, Sierra Leoneans are suffering in the hands of many employers. Imagine some people are working without benefits,no NASSIT, no leave; talk less of leave Alamance, what would be the state of that particular person upon his/her retirement? The answer is deplorable life…sure.
So please Mr. Minister along with the Labor Congress, look into all facets of this labor issue for the welfare of the common Sierra Leoneans🙏
The meeting between the Sierra Leone labour congress and the ministry of labor and social security is one of the most important discussion that the goverment of Sierra Leone to listen. Because this matter deal’s with the minimum wage. Some employers fail to pay correct minimum wages because of the lack of supervision from the ministry of labor and social security. The ministry of labor is the parent body that should enforce the law to employers backed up with the Sierra Leone labour congress and employers federation. The minimum wage is exclusive from allowances and the ministry should take note of that. During the time to pay salary, some employers only pays the wage and ignore the allowances which is very bad.