By Sallieu S. Kanu
Moyamba/Bonthe Districts, June 11, 2026 — Bale Logistics has announced plans to lay off approximately 200 workers this month, following Sierra Rutile Limited’s (SRL) recent decision to scale down mining operations.
The announcement was made during a meeting between company management, employees, and officials from the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security.
Ransford Akrah, Program Manager of Bale Logistics, explained that the company’s reduced production targets and operational volumes left staffing levels unsustainable.
“Our company operates as a direct contract miner for Sierra Rutile Limited. Following SRL’s decision to scale down operations, our production targets and operational volumes have been significantly reduced. Consequently, our current staffing levels exceed our operational requirements, leaving us with no viable alternative but to downsize our workforce,” Akrah said.
The redundancy exercise will affect workers across departments, with separations scheduled for June 12 and 15, 2026. Akrah assured employees that the company would collaborate with the Ministry to ensure all affected staff receive their lawful entitlements.
Deputy Director of Labour and Employment, Abdulai Conteh, described the development as “unfortunate,” noting it comes just weeks after SRL laid off more than 300 workers. He emphasized that while the Ministry’s mandate is to promote employment, redundancy remains lawful when conducted in line with labour regulations.
Conteh reminded workers that under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, employers must provide two months’ notice before redundancies or compensate employees accordingly.
Workers expressed mixed emotions. Employee Shaiku Lee urged colleagues to remain hopeful, while HB driver Jonathan Tom Smith voiced concern over the uncertainty of the process.
Assistant Director of Labour and Employment, Moses Basie Conteh, cautioned employees to remain disciplined during the transition, stressing that misconduct could jeopardize benefits.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to overseeing the process and ensuring compliance with labour laws.