The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, on Thursday, 26th October, 2023, met with owners and representatives of Private Security Companies, on compliance with the Labour Laws.
For quite long, it had been observed by the Ministry that some security agencies have been non-cooperative in the implementation of relevant labour laws, when it comes to payment of End of Service Benefits and other entitlements.
The Minister commended the agencies for taking out time to be at the meeting, adding that it is equally a familiarization engagement.
He informed them about the soon-to-be increment in the prices of work permit for foreign workers, as a way of securing jobs for qualified, competent and available Sierra Leoneans; and to generate more income for the government and the nation
“What we charge for work permit here is pittance as compared to what other countries in the sub-region charge,” the minister stated.
He outlined areas of defaults by agencies; ranging from the payment of End of Service Benefits, Provision of Personal Protective Gears, Payment of Compensation to workers, payment of NASSIT Contributions; to other entitlements.
He said that he decided on the meeting because he felt it would be unfair to start going hard on the agencies for non-compliance without engaging them first.
“We want to talk to you about the provisions of the law that relates to employer–employee relations before we begin to enforce the full force of the law. It is no longer business as usual. The Labour Laws have been reviewed and we are going to enforce them to the fullest,” the Labour Minister stated.
The Meeting also featured a PowerPoint Presentation on basic employment regulations. This was followed by question, answer and discussion session.
In attendance were owners and representatives Security Companies, the Sierra Leone Labour Congress, Director-General of NASSIT, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Commissioner of Labour, and Directors of Employment and Labour.
Credit: Labour Ministry
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times Newspaper on Friday 27th October, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
