The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security in collaboration with its tripartite partners; the Sierra Leone Labour Congress and the Sierra Leone Employers’ Federation has on Thursday 30th May, 2024 successfully mediate the recent unrest at Sierra Rutile (SL) Ltd, characterized by a workforce strike.

It was reported that the strike stemmed from grievances surrounding wage discrepancies and other operational irregularities at the site, which was seen as a working threat by the employees and decided to take an immediate strike action.

From the intervention of the ministry and other bodes as reported through constructive dialogue, an agreement fostering peace and progress has been reached between the workers and their employer, Sierra Rutile.

The peace agreement incorporated key components including the commitment from management to adhere to all statutory requirements concerning the terms and conditions of service for Sierra Rutile employees, provisions were also reached at for the proper payment of overtime as per legal provisions and the Collective Bargaining Agreement applicable to their sector, along with the full payment of risk allowances in accordance with the law.

The  Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, expressed optimism for the future revealing that, the agreement underscored their commitment to fair labour practices and sustainable industrial relations which ensures that the concerns of the workers are addressed while also promoting a conducive working environment for all parties involved.

It is expected that, with this successful mediation, operations at Sierra Rutile are to resume with immediate effect ensuring the continued productivity and stability of the company.