Freetown, April 31, 2026 (SLENA)-Government officials, labour unions, employers, and international partners have renewed their commitment to labour reforms and decent work as Sierra Leone convened the 2026 National Labour Conference and Social Dialogue, just days ahead of the May Day celebrations.
Deputy Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Mohamed Lansana Dumbuya, who chaired the event, described the gathering as a milestone for labour governance and social dialogue. He recalled that in 2025, under Minister Mohammed Rahman Swaray, Sierra Leone hosted its first-ever National Labour Conference.
According to Dumbuya, the initiative supports President Julius Maada Bio’s development agenda, which recognises the workforce as the nation’s most valuable asset for transforming natural resources into national wealth.
When the current administration took office in 2018, many employment laws were outdated, weak, or poorly implemented. Since then, Dumbuya noted, Sierra Leone has ratified major International Labour Organization conventions protecting migrant workers and strengthening occupational health and safety standards. Parliament has also enacted key legislation, including the Employment Act 2023, the Work Permit Act 2023, and the Overseas Employment and Migration Act.
Among the government’s achievements, he cited an increase in the national minimum wage from Le800 to Le1,200 effective April 2026, pension improvements from Le25 to Le250, and salary adjustments across parts of the public sector. The ministry continues to support Decent Work Country Programmes aimed at creating safe, dignified, and productive employment, particularly for vulnerable groups.
However, Dumbuya acknowledged persistent challenges: high youth unemployment, violations of workers’ rights, poor work ethics, delays in end-of-service benefits, pension compliance issues, wage disparities in the public sector, and a growing mismatch between graduates’ skills and labour market demands.
Delivering the keynote address, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said the conference offered a chance to examine both its theme and the broader economic context shaping job creation. He described the event as a cornerstone of May Day observances, bringing together policymakers, social partners, and innovators to shape an inclusive future of work.
Speaking under the theme “Challenges and Opportunities of Decent Work in the Digital Era,” the Vice President noted that digital technologies mobile platforms, e-commerce, remote work, freelancing, and artificial intelligence, are transforming economies and creating new employment possibilities. But he warned that Sierra Leone must address structural barriers to ensure the digital transition benefits everyone.
A significant portion of the workforce, especially youth and women, remains trapped in the informal economy, where jobs lack security, social protection, fair wages, and safe conditions. Jalloh identified unreliable electricity, limited rural broadband, digital skills shortages, underemployment, automation risks, and unequal access to finance and technology for women entrepreneurs as major concerns. Without deliberate policy action, he cautioned, digital transformation could widen inequality.
Marx Conteh, General Secretary of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress, welcomed government efforts to promote dialogue among workers, employers, and the state. He called the conference a significant step toward resolving labour concerns through peaceful engagement rather than confrontation. Conteh urged that the National Labour Conference be institutionalised as an annual platform, similar to established social dialogue structures elsewhere. Representing over 3,000 workers, he stressed that sustained dialogue aligns with ILO Convention 144, which Sierra Leone has ratified.
Kobe Walker, president of the Employers’ Federation, said digital transformation is reshaping global labour markets and business operations. While technology and innovation create new opportunities for productivity and entrepreneurship, he noted concerns about job displacement, skills gaps, informality, labour protection, and inequality. Walker emphasised that Sierra Leone must leverage digital transformation to expand employment access, support enterprise growth, empower women, and prepare young people for the future of work-without leaving any worker behind.
The conference concluded with social dialogue sessions, panel discussions, and stakeholder engagements focused on bridging the gap between education and employment, addressing skills shortages, and exploring opportunities in the creative industry. The activities will climax with the national commemoration of May Day, hosted by President Julius Maada Bio.
Credit: Senior Correspondent: Komba P. Mattia, SLENA
