Sierra Leone labor and social protection reforms

Sierra Leone is undertaking several initiatives to reform labor laws and expand social protections. The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security is implementing the Employment Act 2023, specifically Section 25, which mandates end-of-service benefits. To support this, Smart Systems (SL) Ltd has unveiled a digital platform to automate liability calculations and integrate employers, employees, trustees, and fund managers into a single system. Minister Umaru Napoleon Koroma has emphasized that while the law is non-negotiable, enforcement will be consultative to protect both workers and business sustainability.

To ensure compliance, Minister Koroma has conducted inspections of major industrial sites. At Marampa Mines Limited, discussions focused on a restructuring process driven by rising freight and fuel costs, with an emphasis on balancing expatriate and national staff. Additionally, the Minister inspected the US$418 million NANT Power Project at Kissy Dockyard, assessing employment arrangements, safety standards, and compliance with National Social Security and Insurance Trust requirements.

Efforts are also underway to expand health insurance coverage, particularly for the informal sector which accounts for over 80 per cent of the workforce. This involves collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to integrate health financing into macroeconomic planning. In the maritime sector, the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration and the Ministry are working to domesticate the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, through a joint committee in coordination with the International Labour Organization.