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In a bid to defuse an escalating industrial dispute and improve working conditions at Sierra Tropical Limited, the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, met with aggrieved workers to hear their concerns and outline steps toward resolution. The consultative meeting forms part of the government’s broader agenda on human capital development, labour market reform, and the protection of workers’ rights across Sierra Leone.
Minister Swaray said the visit demonstrated the government’s commitment to balancing investment promotion with the protection of Sierra Leonean workers. He explained that the high-level delegation was mandated by President Julius Maada Bio to ensure that foreign investment does not come at the expense of fair workplace treatment. The Minister also disclosed that the Ministry has strengthened its provincial presence by recruiting over 165 new personnel to improve service delivery nationwide.
“The President is concerned about attracting investment while ensuring that Sierra Leonean workers are treated fairly,” Minister Swaray said, urging early dialogue as the most effective way to prevent industrial unrest.
On behalf of the workers, Augustine M. Frank, a plant mechanic, Patrick Mani John from the maintenance department, and Morrison K. Lahai from the security department raised serious concerns during the meeting, including:
Compulsory Saturday Work: Workers alleged they were persuaded to sign a Saturday work agreement under promises of additional compensation. They claimed the document was submitted to the Labour Congress without full consent and that attempts to review the agreement were blocked.
Unionization Barriers: Employees reported difficulties forming a labour union and expressed fear of victimization when raising grievances.
Occupational Safety Failures: Multiple workplace and transportation accidents were cited. Workers said they were often transported in overloaded trucks and tractors, resulting in injuries.
Environmental and Road Safety Issues: Excessive dust pollution, narrow bridges, lack of road signage, and absence of speed bumps were highlighted as hazards affecting both workers and nearby communities.
Salary and Communication Problems: Workers raised concerns about irregular salary payments, wrongful deductions for alleged absenteeism, and poor communication between management and staff.
Deputy Director at the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Abdulai Conteh, clarified legal provisions on leave entitlement and union rights. He explained that annual leave depends on length of service and contractual terms. He also reminded workers that the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone guarantees the right to form unions, provided lawful procedures are followed and unions are registered with the Ministry for formal recognition.
On localization and employment opportunities, Minister Swaray pledged stronger monitoring to ensure qualified Sierra Leoneans are prioritized for positions currently held by foreign experts. He noted that the government has strengthened the work permit monitoring system and will enforce compliance to prevent unnecessary allocation of roles to foreign nationals.
Kwame Waife, Managing Director of Sierra Tropical Limited, acknowledged the concerns and pledged management’s commitment to structured engagement. He said the company would await a comprehensive report from the Ministry and respond accordingly, noting that while not all issues can be resolved immediately, efforts will be made to improve relations with workers and the surrounding community.
The Ministry is expected to compile a formal report based on the meeting and follow up with recommendations and enforcement actions where necessary.
The meeting concluded on a conciliatory note, with stakeholders expressing renewed optimism for improved industrial relations at Sierra Tropical Limited. The engagement reflects a broader government strategy to promote investment while actively safeguarding workers’ rights and strengthening labour oversight across the country.
