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The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has reaffirmed that compliance with labour laws and regulations is non-negotiable, as the Commissioner of Labour and Employment intensified nationwide inspections through on-the-spot visits to companies in Bo and Kenema.
The inspection exercise began at Splash Purified Water Company in Bo, where the team identified several labour law and workplace safety violations. The Commissioner stressed that health and safety standards must never be compromised, particularly in a company engaged in the production of drinking water, noting that “water is life” and consumers depend on the company to provide safe, ready-to-drink water.
The inspection further revealed that the company had not implemented the recently approved national minimum wage of Le1,200. The Commissioner issued a notice describing the wage policy as non-negotiable and gave management a seven-day ultimatum to rectify salary discrepancies and address all occupational health and safety concerns.
The team also visited First Tricon Limited, a construction and civil engineering company along the Bo–Kenema Highway. Management was instructed to submit employees’ contracts to the Regional Labour Office for vetting.
The company was further directed to fully implement the national minimum wage for its lowest-paid workers, register with the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department, ensure full NASSIT compliance, and regularize the work permit status of all foreign nationals in line with the Work Permit Act 2023.
The enforcement exercise extended to Kenema, where Dorwaila Hotel and Hill Top Hotel were also inspected. Addressing management, the Commissioner underscored the Ministry’s shift from a reactive to a proactive enforcement approach.
“We are no longer waiting in our offices in Freetown for complaints before taking action. We are taking the Ministry to workplaces across the country to ensure employers comply with the Employment Act and the Work Permit Act 2023. These inspections enable us to engage employers directly, identify areas of non-compliance, provide immediate guidance where necessary, and enforce the law effectively,” he said.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring nationwide compliance with labour laws, protecting workers’ rights, and upholding acceptable workplace standards through sustained inspections across the country.
