Sierra Leone suspends overseas recruitment via Guinea route

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has issued a temporary suspension of all overseas recruitment activities utilizing the Guinea transit route. The decision follows allegations that private employment agencies and unidentified individuals are using this route to facilitate the movement of Sierra Leonean workers for jobs abroad in a manner that may bypass legal regulations.

In response to these allegations, the Ministry has launched an investigation and directed all licensed overseas recruitment agencies to report to headquarters for verification of their activities. Licensed agencies must submit documentation regarding the recruitment, processing, and deployment of workers to assist in the probe.

Separately, Labour Minister Umaru Napoleon Koroma has engaged with Guinean authorities to seek safer, more coordinated passage for Sierra Leoneans traveling through Guinea to reach employment opportunities in Arab countries. The Minister emphasized the need to strengthen cross-border cooperation to prevent delays and protect workers from fraudulent, unregistered operators. To enhance oversight, the Ministry announced plans to establish a dedicated committee to monitor overseas employment and migration processes.

In a separate development, Deputy Minister Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara presented Sierra Leone’s youth skills and employment agenda at the Youth Knowledge Forum in Morocco. The presentation highlighted national strategies for human capital development, including technical vocational training and digital skills initiatives aimed at preparing young people for a changing global economy.