Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Friday, 1st May 2026, joined workers, employers and development partners at the National Labour Conference held at the Miatta Civic Centre to mark International Workers’ Day.
Speaking on behalf of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, he delivered a message of solidarity and appreciation, describing himself as “a very dedicated worker of this great republic” and extending the President’s greetings to labour leaders and employers.
Focusing on the human side of governance, the Vice President assured workers that their concerns were being heard and addressed. He backed calls for stronger dialogue on labour laws and promised government support for key recommendations.
“We are going to protect the minimum wage,” he said, while acknowledging concerns about living costs and stressing that “the big challenge today is limited household income.”
He noted that government efforts to stabilize prices and subsidize essentials were aimed at easing the burden on ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
Highlighting the importance of unity, VP Juldeh Jalloh described workers as central to national progress and called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders. “Workers are not mere beneficiaries of development, they are its architects and its engine,” he said, urging continued engagement between government, employers and unions.
He concluded by saluting workers across the country, noting, “Your labour builds our nation, and your power will drive our transformation.”
The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, used the occasion to celebrate Sierra Leonean workers, describing May Day as a moment of recognition rather than negotiation.
“Today, we celebrate you, the workforce,” he said, praising their resilience and contribution across all sectors. Emphasizing their central role in national development, he added, “If Sierra Leone works, it is because Sierra Leoneans are working,” while reaffirming the government’s commitment to decent work, improved wages and expanded social protection.
Representative of the Sierra Leone Employers Federation, Kobie Walker, emphasized the need for balance between workers’ welfare and business sustainability, noting that “no nation can transform successfully without productive enterprises, protected workers and strong social dialogue.”
He commended recent labour reforms and urged continued consultation, warning that “if employers collapse, jobs disappear,” and stressing that “workers’ power and employers’ stability are mutually reinforcing pillars of national development.”
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 4th May 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
