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The Commissioner of Labour, Sinneh Bockarie, has intensified efforts to strengthen the capacity of newly recruited officers of the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security (MELSS) and personnel from Constrat Systems through a comprehensive training programme held in Bo and Kenema.
The initiative is designed to enhance labour inspection, occupational safety and health, employment services, social protection, and work permit administration as part of the Ministry’s drive to improve service delivery and strengthen enforcement of labour laws.
The training also seeks to bridge capacity gaps within the Labour Inspectorate while reinforcing collaboration between MELSS and Constrat Systems, the Ministry’s technical partner responsible for supporting the digitisation and administration of Sierra Leone’s unified work permit system. Constrat Systems facilitates the electronic processing of work permit applications, supports data management and verification, and works alongside the Ministry to ensure work permits are processed efficiently, transparently, and in compliance with national laws.
Addressing participants, Commissioner Bockarie stressed the importance of effective collaboration between Ministry staff and Constrat Systems in implementing the Government’s unified residence and work permit system. He noted that while work permits fall under the Ministry’s mandate, residence permits are managed by the Immigration Department, making coordination among the institutions essential.
He urged participants to use the training to clearly understand their responsibilities during inspections and enforcement exercises, emphasizing that the programme is aimed at building a unified team committed to ensuring compliance with labour laws and work permit regulations.
Commissioner Bockarie also introduced participants to the Ministry’s technical leadership, including directors responsible for labour inspection and employment services, highlighting their role in strengthening the knowledge and professionalism of the newly recruited officers.
The Director of Labour and Employment, Idrissa Dumbuya, conducted practical sessions on labour inspection procedures and outlined the respective responsibilities of MELSS, Constrat Systems, and the Immigration Department in enforcing Sierra Leone’s labour and immigration laws.
The capacity-building initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to strengthen labour governance, improve workplace compliance, enhance public service delivery, and ensure that the country’s work permit regime supports national development while protecting employment opportunities for Sierra Leoneans.
