By George M. O. Williams
Freetown, August 20, 2025: The Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC), in partnership with the Sierra Leone Domestic Workers Union (SLeDoWU) and partners, has launched a three-day workshop on advancing the implementation of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 189. The event, held at the Family Kingdom Resort in Freetown, aims to promote decent work standards for migrant domestic workers across Sierra Leone and the wider West African region.
Under the theme “ILO Convention 189 and Decent Work for Migrant Domestic Workers: Moving the Agenda Forward,” the workshop brings together government officials, union leaders, international partners, and civil society representatives to discuss strategies for improving labor protections and social inclusion for domestic workers.
ILO Convention 189, adopted in 2011, sets global standards to ensure fair treatment, decent wages, and social protections for domestic workers—many of whom are women and migrants facing systemic exclusion and vulnerability.
The workshop is part of an EU-funded initiative titled Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa, which runs through 2029. The project is jointly implemented by the IOM, ILO, and the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission.
Deputy Ambassador of the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone, Emilio Rossetti, emphasized the importance of decent work in fostering regional integration and economic development. He noted that while many countries have ratified Convention 189, its implementation remains uneven.
“We support Convention 189 throughout the region, recognizing domestic work as a legitimate form of employment and a human rights issue,” Rossetti said. “The convention addresses the vulnerability of domestic workers, especially women and girls from disadvantaged communities.”
ILO Officer-in-Charge, Tonderai Manoto, highlighted that over 76 million people globally are employed as domestic workers, yet many remain undervalued and under protected. He called for stronger wages, improved working conditions, and expanded social protections—particularly in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Alves D’Almaola, ECOWAS Head of Division for Social Affairs, noted that only Sierra Leone and Guinea have ratified Convention 189 in West Africa. He stressed the convention’s role in combating poor wages, discrimination, and xenophobia.
Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, hailed the workshop as a milestone in recognizing the rights of domestic workers. He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment, noting that the country domesticated the convention in 2021.
“Domestic workers contribute not only economically but socially and culturally,” Swarray said. “They must be protected under the same labor laws as other employees, both locally and abroad.”
Executive Secretary of the Sierra Leone Employers Federation, Albert Oju Collier, echoed the need for equal treatment of migrant workers, citing ongoing complaints of abuse and poor working conditions.
Vice President of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress, Emmanuel D. Pratt, emphasized the essential role domestic and migrant workers play in sustaining key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. He called for urgent action to extend social protections and prevent exploitation.
SLeDoWU Executive Director, Alma Heroe, said the workshop will foster dialogue, share best practices, and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders. She added that it will support the development of national action plans and build the capacity of domestic workers’ organizations.
The workshop is expected to conclude with a roadmap for enhancing protections and promoting decent work for domestic workers across Sierra Leone and the ECOWAS region.