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The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has commenced workplace compliance inspections across selected businesses in Freetown as part of efforts to ensure employers comply with Sierra Leone’s labour laws.
The inspection exercise, conducted on 15 July by the Commissioner of Labour and the Constrat Compliance Team, focused on key areas including adherence to the national minimum wage, occupational safety and health standards, and compliance with the Unified Permit Regime for foreign workers.
The Commissioner of Labour described the exercise as a comprehensive compliance drive aimed at promoting decent work and protecting workers’ rights, rather than a narrow immigration enforcement operation.
“As long as you are within the employment ecosystem, you are covered by the Employment Act,” the Commissioner stated, emphasising that all employers and employees fall within the scope of the country’s labour regulations.
During the door-to-door inspections, officials conducted on-the-spot checks of payroll records to verify minimum wage payments, assessed workplace safety conditions, and reviewed employment and immigration documents for foreign nationals.
The Ministry disclosed that several employers were identified with incomplete or irregular documentation relating to foreign workers. The affected businesses have been given seven working days to regularise the status of their employees.
The Commissioner warned that employers who fail to comply within the stipulated period could face enforcement measures, including possible closure of businesses or recommendations for the removal of foreign nationals found to be operating without proper documentation.
The Ministry stressed that the inspections are designed to protect both local and foreign workers while ensuring a level playing field for businesses operating in Sierra Leone.
Officials explained that the compliance drive is not solely focused on penalties but also provides employers with an opportunity to correct administrative gaps, improve workplace safety standards, update payroll systems, and ensure proper documentation of foreign employees.
The Commissioner urged businesses to use the regularisation period to review employment contracts, wage records, safety procedures, and work permits to avoid possible sanctions.
The Ministry further disclosed that follow-up comprehensive inspections will be conducted to assess sustained compliance and address broader labour issues identified during the initial exercise.
The ongoing workplace inspections form part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen labour law enforcement, improve occupational safety, reduce exploitation, and promote lawful employment practices across Sierra Leone.
