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The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, in collaboration with its social partners—the Sierra Leone Labour Congress and the Sierra Leone Employers’ Federation—has teamed up with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to review the country’s National Labour Migration Policy.
This initiative follows a recent cooperation agreement between the Ministry and IOM, which aims to address issues related to irregular migration, such as human trafficking, exploitation of migrant workers, and unregulated recruitment practices, which have been significant concerns in the Labour Migration Sector.
In 2021, the Government of Sierra Leone lifted a two-year ban on labour migration, which was imposed due to concerns about exploiting migrant workers and unregulated recruitment practices.
This lifting, followed by significant reforms such as the development and enactment of the Overseas Employment and Migrant Workers’ Act 2023, and the registration and licensing of Private Recruitment Agencies, allows the recruitment and deployment of Sierra Leonean workers to international companies and industries.
However, the foundational National Labour Migration Policy, initially formulated in 2017, also required updating.
During the opening ceremony of the review process held last week in Freetown, Deputy Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Lansana Mohamed Dumbuya, emphasized the need for the policy’s revision, stating that it is currently “not up to date.”
The updated policy aims to enhance the governance of labour migration, protect migrants’ rights, and leverage the contributions of both emigrants and immigrants for Sierra Leone’s national development.
The Minister highlighted that through the Ministry of Labour, the government has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and bilateral labour agreements with several countries to ensure safe, orderly, regular, and dignified migration. These countries include:
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- State of Qatar
- State of Kuwait
“Additionally, a draft MOU with the Sultanate of Oman is in the final stages, and plans are underway to engage authorities in Turkey and Lebanon for similar agreements,” he added.
Participants in the review process, primarily stakeholders in Labour Migration Governance, played a crucial and valued role in identifying areas in the current National Labour Migration Policy that need revision. Their insights and proposals are integral to strengthening protections for migrant workers, regulating recruitment agencies, and monitoring and enforcing the policy.
This collaborative effort, underpinned by the government’s steadfast commitment to reforming and improving Labour migration management in Sierra Leone, instils confidence in all stakeholders.
