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Lawyer and activist Yasmin Jusu-Sheriff has called on the government to take responsibility following the recent layoff of over 900 workers at Koidu Holdings in Kono.
She said the affected families are now left without support, and the silence from key authorities is worrying.
Speaking on the issue, she made it clear that the First Lady should not be expected to handle the matter. “It’s not the First Lady’s job to solve problems like this for the people of Kono,” she said. “She is not a lawyer, not an employment expert, and not a mining expert.”
Jusu-Sheriff said the responsibility lies with the government and elected leaders. “This is the job of the government, the Members of Parliament. They are the ones who should step up,” she said.
She questioned their inaction, asking, “What are they hiding from, or who are they hiding from?” She reminded them that they were chosen to represent the people and speak up in times like these.
She also raised concerns about the Ministry of Employment. “What has the Ministry of Employment done in all of this?” she asked.
The loss of over 900 jobs in Kono has left many families uncertain about their future, with little information on what comes next.
Are the workers that were laid off not members of a workers union? Usually you’d expect a workers union to negotiate on behalf of their members in organizations where they work.
On the other hand, Sierra Leoneans are reluctant to invest money and time in union activities, making them vulnerable in the face of corporate bullying. What has happened in Koidu Holdings is a wake up call for workers to unionize in all sectors to be able to fight against corporate bullying.