Workers and retirees of Sierra Leone Telecommunications Company (SierraTel) say the state-owned telecom operator has failed to comply with a presidential directive to settle more than NLe326 million in unpaid salaries and staff benefits, months after the order was issued.

The directive, as reported by Truth Media, followed an advocacy letter written by Abdul Fatoma, Executive Director of the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), to the Office of the President.

According to Sierratel’s Coordinator of Access Network, Foday Barrie, President Julius Maada Bio responded on August 4, 2025, instructing the Ministries of Communication and Labour to take the necessary steps to resolve the company’s long-running labour crisis.

“President Bio instructed the relevant ministries to put the matter at SierraTel to rest,” Barrie said. “But up to now, nothing has changed for workers.”

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Lansana Papa Kamara, an IT technician, trade unionist, and executive member of the SierraTel Union, said officials from the Ministries of Communication and Labour assessed staff liabilities, including salary arrears, leave allowances, medical benefits, and statutory Labour Ministry increments. He said the total obligation was calculated at more than NLe326 million.

“The ministries completed their work and sent the file to the Ministry of Finance,” Kamara stated. “Since then, we have not heard anything further.”

Sierratel has been in financial distress since 2022, following stalled efforts to transition the company into private ownership. Workers and retirees say they are owed up to 23 months of unpaid salaries, a situation they describe as devastating to their families and health.

“Every day we are losing colleagues,” Barrie said. “Some staff are homeless, others are battling serious medical conditions. There is no medical support, and our salaries remain unpaid.”

Kamara said the company’s workforce has sharply declined as conditions worsened. “We once had more than 400 employees,” he said. “Many have resigned or left the country. Others have dropped out due to illness, depression, trauma, and poor working conditions.”

Lilian Koroma, a Customer Care Representative and single mother, said she has gone 18 months without receiving a salary. She questioned the government’s commitment to gender inclusion policies.

“The government talks about a 30 percent quota for women, but we don’t see that reflected at SierraTel,” Koroma said. “My child is in university, and I can’t pay tuition without begging relatives. Feeding my family is extremely difficult, and I can no longer afford rent. I’m not even living under my own roof.”

Retirees have also raised concerns about unpaid benefits. Mohamed Badamasie Cole, former Head of Media and Public Relations at SierraTel, said more than 30 retirees are still awaiting their entitlements.

“I am owed six months’ salary and more than two years of unpaid leave and other benefits,” Cole said. “We wrote formally to management, but they ignored us. The Finance Department told us it is the government’s responsibility. As retirees, we are highly constrained and need these backlogs cleared.”

Workers and retirees say communication between the Ministry of Communication, the SierraTel Board, and the Interim Management has broken down. They are now calling on President Bio to personally intervene and monitor the process to ensure his directive is implemented.

The Ministry of Finance has not yet released the funds outlined in the staff welfare summary prepared by the line ministries.

After several attempts to contact the Minister of Communication, members of the SierraTel Board, and the Interim Chairman for comment, no response was received by the time of publication.