By Josephine Sesay
The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) has engaged the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security to strengthen collaboration towards incorporating the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, into the country’s national legal framework.
The engagement, held in Freetown on October 28, focused on advancing legal and institutional reforms aimed at improving the protection of seafarers’ rights, welfare and working conditions in Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the meeting, Deputy Executive Director of the SLMA, Mr. Emmanuel B.A.
Lansana, highlighted ongoing reforms within the maritime sector, including the revised Merchant Shipping Act, 2026, which was passed by Parliament in June and received presidential assent on September 3, 2026.
Lansana emphasised the need for a dedicated Maritime Labour Convention Act to provide a stronger legal framework for protecting seafarers and ensuring decent working conditions in line with international standards. He also called for the support of the Ministry and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in advancing the process.
In response, Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mr. Umaru Napoleon Koroma, welcomed the initiative and assured the Maritime Administration of his Ministry’s commitment to supporting the implementation process.
Minister Koroma proposed the establishment of a joint committee comprising relevant institutions to coordinate the necessary activities and develop a clear roadmap for incorporating the Convention into national legislation.
Both institutions agreed to share a concept note, engage technical experts and convene a follow-up meeting ahead of the ILO engagements scheduled for June 2027.
The proposed collaboration is expected to strengthen labour protection within Sierra Leone’s maritime industry, promote improved welfare and working conditions for seafarers, and bring the country’s maritime labour framework in line with international best practices.
The development also represents a step towards reinforcing institutional cooperation and ensuring that seafarers operating within Sierra Leone’s maritime sector enjoy the rights and protections provided under international labour standards.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 2nd November 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
