AYV News, April 14, 2026
As part of efforts to resolve the industrial dispute between workers of Sierra Tropical Limited and the company’s management, the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, convened a consultative meeting with aggrieved workers aimed at identifying challenges and proposing practical solutions to improve labour relations and workers’ welfare.
The engagement forms part of government’s broader agenda on human capital development, labour market reforms, and the protection of workers’ rights across Sierra Leone.
Addressing the workers, Minister Swaray noted that the visit demonstrated government’s commitment to balancing investment promotion with the protection of Sierra Leonean workers.
“This is my second visit here. When my team and I came yesterday, we learned that certain unfortunate incidents occurred after my previous visit, though they were not officially communicated to me. Nevertheless, we remain attentive to developments on the ground,” the Minister said.
He explained that the high-powered delegation, which earlier held consultations with community stakeholders in Lugbu Chiefdom alongside the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, was mandated by President Julius Maada Bio to ensure both investment growth and fair labour practices.
“The President is concerned about attracting investment to Sierra Leone while ensuring that Sierra Leonean workers are treated fairly in their workplaces. That is why we continue to engage communities and workers directly to resolve emerging industrial issues,” he stated.
Minister Swaray further disclosed that the Ministry had strengthened its provincial presence after years of limited staffing, adding that over 165 new personnel had been recruited to improve service delivery nationwide.
He encouraged workers to openly present their concerns, emphasizing that early dialogue was key to preventing industrial unrest.
Speaking on behalf of the workers, Augustine M. Frank, a Plant Mechanic, raised concerns over compulsory Saturday work arrangements. He alleged that workers were persuaded to accept a Saturday work agreement with promises of additional compensation, but later discovered that the document had been submitted to the Labour Congress without their full consent.
He further claimed that attempts to review the agreement were unsuccessful and that some workers feared victimization when raising grievances. He also highlighted difficulties faced by employees in establishing a labour union within the company.
Patrick Mani John of the Maintenance Department drew attention to occupational safety challenges, citing multiple workplace and transportation accidents. He alleged that workers were often transported in overloaded trucks and tractors, leading to serious injuries.
He also expressed concern about environmental and road safety issues, including excessive dust pollution affecting nearby communities, absence of speed bumps, narrow bridges, and lack of road signage.
From the Security Department, Morrison K. Lahai criticized what he described as poor communication between management and staff, irregular salary payments, and wrongful deductions linked to alleged absenteeism. He added that many workers feared victimization for speaking out.
Responding to issues relating to leave entitlement and unionization, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Abdulai Conteh, clarified that annual leave allocation depends on an employee’s length of service and contractual terms.
He further explained that workers at all levels have the constitutional right to form unions under Section 26(1) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, provided such unions follow lawful procedures, adopt clear governance structures, and register with the Ministry for formal recognition.
On concerns regarding localization and employment opportunities for Sierra Leoneans, Minister Swaray assured workers that government was strengthening monitoring mechanisms to ensure qualified Sierra Leoneans are prioritized for positions currently occupied by foreign experts.
“We will ensure that roles Sierra Leoneans can competently fill are not unnecessarily assigned to foreign nationals. We have strengthened the work permit monitoring system and will enforce compliance,” he affirmed, while encouraging local professionals to position themselves for available opportunities.
In his response, Managing Director of Sierra Tropical Limited, Kwame Waife, acknowledged the concerns raised and pledged management’s commitment to addressing them through structured engagement.
“We recognize that several serious concerns have been raised. While all issues cannot be resolved immediately, we will await a comprehensive report from the Ministry of Labour and respond decisively. Our aim is to strengthen our relationship with both workers and the community,” he said.
Mr. Waife noted that despite operational challenges faced by the company, management remained committed to improving working conditions and maintaining constructive dialogue with employees.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with handshakes among stakeholders and renewed optimism for improved industrial relations and a safer, more productive working environment at Sierra Tropical Limited.
