AYV News, October 7, 2026
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Umaru Napoleon Koroma, has called for greater protection of migrant workers and a more transparent labour migration system as he participates in the Second Doha Dialogue on Labour Migration in Tanzania.
Speaking to AYV, Minister Koroma said he held two bilateral meetings on October 5 as part of Sierra Leone’s engagement at the dialogue.
The first meeting was with representatives of the State of Qatar, where discussions focused on the full implementation of the bilateral labour agreement signed between Sierra Leone and Qatar in 2022, as well as opportunities to expand labour migration pathways for Sierra Leonean nationals.
He said his second bilateral engagement was with the State of Lebanon, focusing on renewed cooperation under Sierra Leone’s national initiative aimed at protecting Sierra Leonean migrant workers in Lebanon.
On October 6, Minister Koroma joined Ministers of Labour and Employment from African countries and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in delivering statements on the theme: “From Commitment to Action: Advancing Fair and Sustainable Labour Mobility between Africa and the GCC Countries.”
In his statement, the Minister advocated for a transparent labour migration process and fair treatment of migrant workers.
He further called on destination countries to require employers and recruitment companies to bear recruitment costs, arguing that workers should not be forced into debt before receiving their first wages.
“A worker leaving Freetown for a job abroad carries more than a suitcase. That worker carries school fees yet to be paid, a family’s hopes and the promise of a better future,” Minister Koroma said.
He stressed that Sierra Leone’s responsibility is to ensure that the journey towards better opportunities does not begin with deception or end in exploitation.
According to the Minister, overseas employment should expand opportunities while protecting the dignity of Sierra Leonean workers and complementing efforts to create decent employment opportunities at home.
“Migration should be a choice people can make with confidence, supported by accurate information and a genuine prospect of advancement,” he said.
Minister Koroma highlighted Sierra Leone’s Overseas Employment and Migrant Workers Act, 2023, which provides a framework for regulating recruitment and protecting migrant workers.
He noted that the registration and licensing of recruitment agencies form part of the framework, while Sierra Leone has also strengthened bilateral labour cooperation with countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.
However, he stressed that legislation and bilateral agreements must translate into practical protection for workers.
“A law must work beyond the statute book. An agreement must work beyond the signing ceremony,” he said, adding that their value is demonstrated when recruitment is honest, employment terms are honoured and workers can access assistance when they need it.
The Minister said Sierra Leone would continue to advocate for stronger regional and international cooperation to ensure that labour migration is safe, orderly, fair and sustainable.
He proposed that participating countries focus their cooperation on four practical priorities aimed at strengthening recruitment systems, protecting migrant workers and ensuring that labour mobility delivers meaningful benefits for both workers and destination countries.
