In what is seen as a boost for citizens working for both Local and International Non-Governmental Organisations below supervisory level, new conditions of service contained in a government gazette policy makes provision for improved working conditions that the employers have to honour. This also covers workers in the public and private sectors.
Conditions in the policy, which became effective in March this year, would have to be adhered to for a period of 2 years. The gazette document published on 18th September 2020, saw marked improvement in some areas as compared to the last working conditions of 2011. The previous monthly allowance for rent, for instance, was 25, 000 Leones, but has now been revised to 25% of the annual basic salary of the worker.
The new transfer out of station and relocation allowance is now 500,000 Leones, with temporary transfer of less than 6 months to fetch a worker 200,000 Leones per night for less than 90 days. The previous policy provided for 20,000 Leones per night with accommodation and 30,000 Leones without.
All workers and employees covered by the agreement are now entitled to a monthly transport allowance of 30% of their monthly basic salary. Before this transport allowance was pegged at 80,000 Leones per month.
This new agreement also ensures a wage claim increase of 30% for staff below supervisory level and the increase to include all existing salaries and wages of all workers. Before this the Wage Claim per day was 2,500 Leones for ‘’all daily rated workers and 65,000 Leones every month for staff below supervisory level.
It has also been agreed that the probationary period is four months and three months extension if necessary, but that such a period should not exceed seven months.
These latest revised working conditions have been received with some mixed feelings especially by the NGO employers.
The Director of Concern Worldwide Sierra Leone, Austin Kennan, in a telephone interview with Politico said as Co-chair of a group of NGOs, they are engaged in consultations with the Ministry of Labour over clarification on certain issues.
Kennan said they abide by the laid down laws as implementers of projects and have in several instances ensured salary reviews as they believe in fairness for all workers.
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