By Hajaratu Kalokoh
The government of Sierra Leone has reiterated its stance over the ban on recruitment for overseas jobs placement.
The ban imposed over two years ago was a response to complaints of human rights violations in the host countries, among other concerns.
But despite the official position of the government, reports indicate that recruitment agencies have continued to operate and send Sierra Leoneans abroad.
Those who have abided by the law have been lobbying for the government to lift the ban.
The Ministry of Labour said on Thursday that the ban was still on. Deputy Labour Minister, Lansana Mohamed Dumbuya, was quoted telling a delegation of officials from the Office of National Security (ONS) that they were working on measures geared towards ensuring a properly coordinated approach to the scheme.
The ONS officials had called on the Labour Ministry officials at the offices of the latter at New England Ville.
The Labour Ministry said its goal is to ensure that migrant workers from Sierra Leone were gainfully employed, protected and guided against financial exploitation and trafficking.
“The licenses of the previous registered recruiting agencies for overseas employment have been revoked for over one year. The government is aware of the economic value of overseas employment, that is why it has formulated guidelines for the registration of recruiting agencies, ratified ILO conventions on Labour Migration, launched the Sierra Leone Labor Migration Policy and recently forwarded the draft bill on Labor Migration to Parliament to ensure decent work for foreign workers in and out of Sierra Leone,” the Ministry said in a press statement sent to Politico.
The statement added that the ministry was currently working on requests for overseas employment opportunities in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, among other countries, for Sierra Leoneans through foreign bodies.
There have been a lot of rumors and testimonies of abuse from Sierra Leoneans employed in some of the countries that demand the services of domestic workers, like Iraq, Kuwait, Dubai and Qatar.
Women have been the most susceptible to abuse in the hands of rogue employers. They complain of harsh treatment in the hands of their hosts. In some cases, some have reported that upon arrival all their travelling documents were ceased, making it impossible for them to leave until their contracts end.
And most of these traveling were facilitated by agents who are only concerned about the gains they make from the transactions.
It is in this vain that the government has repeatedly banned the scheme, although there has been little indication that the ban is enforced.
Abdul Karim, Assistant Director, Serious Crime Coordination at ONS, noted during the meeting with the Labour Ministry officials that Sierra Leoneans were working in hash and degrading conditions abroad because of the illegal recruiters.
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