By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, July 6, 2026: The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), has launched a three-day capacity-building workshop to prepare Sierra Leone for the ratification of six priority ILO conventions and the UN Convention on Migrant Workers.
Opening the workshop, Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray hailed the initiative as a milestone in Sierra Leone’s labour reform agenda. He emphasized that aligning national labour laws with international standards is central to advancing the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030) and achieving SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth.
Priority Conventions Under Review
The worksho examines six ILO conventions:
- Convention 170 — Chemicals
- Convention 174 — Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents
- Convention 184 — Safety and Health in Agriculture
- Convention 183 — Maternity Protection
- Convention 190 — Violence and Harassment in the World of Work
- Convention 192 — Biological Hazards in the Working Environment
ILO representative Chinyere Emeka-Anuna highlighted Conventions 183 and 190 as particularly transformative, strengthening gender equality, maternity protection, and workplace safety.
Stakeholder Perspectives
- Sierra Leone Employers’ Federation (SLEF) Project Officer Yvette Kargbo welcomed the conventions but urged practical implementation that considers the realities of small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Sierra Leone Labour Congress Secretary-General Marx Conteh praised the initiative, noting that many standards are already reflected in national legislation. He called for expedited passage of pending labour bills to complete reforms.
Minister Swaray stressed that ratification must be followed by domestication, effective implementation, and sustained social dialogue. He announced that the Decent Work Country Programme Committee will meet from July 9–11 to review progress and set priority actions.
The workshop, running from July 6–8 in Freetown, brings together government officials, employers, workers’ organizations, development partners, and labour experts to build consensus on ratification and strengthen Sierra Leone’s labour governance framework.