By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Alpha Osman Timbo has at the plenary session of the 110th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, presented a strong case for what he said is the Government’s willingness to promote and implement decent work and standards for women and men in Sierra Leone through ratification of 8 International Labour Organizations (ILO) conventions, and one protocol in 2021.
The minister during the session stated that Sierra Leone takes the report of the Chairperson of the Governing Body and Director-General of the ILO seriously. He noted that in March 2022, the session addressed several issues on the work of the governing body as well as the state of implementation of the various policies, programmes and activities of the ILO.
"We are grateful to ILO for its four-year project, under the framework of the European Union’s jobs and growth programme in Sierra Leone, in the districts of Bo, Bombali, Kenema and Port Loko. The objective of this project is to contribute to large-scale job creation and job quality improvement in sustainable enterprises for unskilled or semi-skilled youth, women and persons with disabilities", the Minister noted.
Minister Timbo informed the conference that Sierra Leone is currently conducting nationwide consultative meetings with a view to reviewing outdated labour laws. The Regulation of Wages and Industrial Relations Act No. 18, 1971, the Factories Act No. 3, 1974, the Employer and Employed Act Cap 212, the Trade Union Ordinance, 1940, Cap 221, Employee Registration Ordinance Cap 213, General Law (Business Start-Up) (Amendment) Act 2007 and the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1954 were all said to be outdated.
He explained that the government is working collaboratively with the Sierra Leone Labour Congress and the Sierra Leone Employers Federation in the formulation of policies and legislation, especially those covering all aspects of work.
He emphasized the premium President Julius Maada Bio has placed on human capital development as a flagship programme of his government, which promotes education and health care, with a particular focus on girls.
´´The introduction of the FQSEP has helped in reducing the incidence of child labour in the country,” he said.
The minister, on behalf of the president and people of Sierra Leone, thanked the outgoing ILO Director-General Guy Ryder for his leadership and his team for effective stewardship of the organisation. He also welcomed the incoming Director-General of the ILO, Gilbert Houngbo, and wished him a successful tenure of office. Houngbo is a Togo national
´´We are proud and grateful that Africa has been honoured with leading this very important international organization,” he said.
Sierra Leone became a member of the ILO in 1961, shortly after gaining independence. Since becoming a member of the ILO, the country has ratified all the fundamental labour conventions and domesticated most of them.
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