Sierra Leone’s Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening labour migration governance, protecting Sierra Leonean workers abroad and expanding access to decent international employment opportunities during a courtesy meeting with representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Freetown on Friday, 16 October 2026.
The engagement formed part of ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation between the Ministry and IOM in promoting safe, orderly and regular labour migration, improving recruitment practices, strengthening institutional coordination and addressing the challenges confronting Sierra Leoneans seeking employment overseas.
Speaking during the meeting, IOM Officer-in-Charge, Paulina Macharia, commended the Ministry for its longstanding partnership with the organization, which has maintained a presence in Sierra Leone for 25 years. She acknowledged the progress made through joint initiatives covering migration policy development, institutional capacity building, labour mobility and the sustainable reintegration of returning migrants.
Paulina Macharia disclosed that IOM, working closely with the National Youth Commission, has supported returning Sierra Leoneans through training, skills development and reintegration programmes designed to improve their livelihoods and economic prospects.
According to her, more than 2,600 Sierra Leoneans have returned to the country since 2022, with nearly 1,000 benefiting from reintegration-related training initiatives aimed at equipping them with practical skills and opportunities for sustainable employment.
She further highlighted an ongoing project focused on strengthening labour migration governance in Sierra Leone, explaining that a steering committee and technical working committee were established earlier this year to provide policy direction, technical guidance and coordination for its implementation.
Among the major priorities identified under the initiative are securing Cabinet approval for an action plan to implement the revised Labour Migration Policy and conducting a gender-sensitive needs assessment to inform the establishment of a proposed pre-departure centre.
The proposed centre is expected to provide prospective Sierra Leonean migrant workers, particularly those travelling to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with reliable information on employment conditions, contractual obligations, workers’ rights, recruitment procedures and potential risks associated with overseas employment.
The initiative is intended to ensure that individuals seeking employment abroad are adequately informed and better prepared before leaving Sierra Leone, thereby reducing their vulnerability to exploitation, deceptive recruitment practices and other forms of abuse.
Paulina Macharia also reaffirmed IOM’s readiness to support the Government in negotiating bilateral labour agreements with destination countries, strengthening engagement with private recruitment agencies and promoting transparent and responsible recruitment systems.
She further briefed Minister Umaru Napoleon Koroma on a feasibility study exploring opportunities for skills mobility between Sierra Leone and Ireland, particularly within the construction sector.
The proposed arrangement seeks to identify opportunities through which qualified Sierra Leonean workers could access employment in Ireland while ensuring that their skills correspond with the requirements of the overseas labour market.
Responding, Minister Umaru Napoleon Koroma expressed appreciation to IOM for its continued technical and institutional support, assuring the delegation that the recent change in leadership at the Ministry would not disrupt existing programmes, commitments or partnerships.
He emphasized that labour migration remains an important priority for the Government, particularly because of its potential to create employment opportunities, strengthen household incomes and contribute to national economic development.
However, the Minister cautioned that migration must be properly regulated to prevent Sierra Leonean citizens from becoming victims of exploitation, unfair employment conditions and other vulnerabilities associated with poorly managed recruitment and overseas labour arrangements.
Drawing attention to his recent visit to Guinea alongside President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Umaru Napoleon Koroma highlighted the challenges associated with uncontrolled labour migration and the difficulties experienced by some Sierra Leoneans living and working abroad.
He particularly expressed concern over the circumstances confronting Sierra Leonean migrant workers in Gulf countries, where some citizens reportedly seek assistance from diplomatic missions after encountering employment-related difficulties.
The Minister stressed that prospective migrant workers must receive accurate and comprehensive information about their intended destinations, including available employment opportunities, working conditions, legal protections, contractual responsibilities and possible risks.
He maintained that effective migration governance requires clearly defined Government policies, stronger institutional oversight and proper regulation of private recruitment agencies involved in facilitating employment opportunities outside Sierra Leone.
The Minister further noted that labour migration governance had featured prominently during discussions at the Second Doha Dialogue in Tanzania, reflecting the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing migration-related challenges.
He also recalled a bilateral engagement between President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and the Director General of the International Organization for Migration on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, during which both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on migration governance.
According to the Minister, such engagements demonstrate the Government’s determination to establish stronger international partnerships that will promote responsible labour mobility while safeguarding the dignity, welfare and fundamental rights of Sierra Leonean citizens.
He assured the IOM delegation that the Ministry would expedite outstanding activities under the ongoing labour migration governance project and convene a follow-up technical meeting to assess implementation progress, identify outstanding challenges and agree on practical measures to accelerate delivery.
The proposed follow-up engagement is expected to provide an opportunity for both institutions to review progress on the revised Labour Migration Policy, the proposed pre-departure centre, recruitment oversight mechanisms and emerging opportunities for bilateral labour cooperation.
The Minister emphasized that improving labour migration governance would require sustained collaboration among Government institutions, international development partners, recruitment agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
He concluded by reaffirming the Ministry’s determination to work closely with IOM to establish a more transparent, coordinated and effective labour migration framework that protects Sierra Leonean workers from exploitation while creating opportunities for decent employment abroad.
The strengthened partnership is expected to support Sierra Leone’s broader efforts to improve migration management, enhance the protection of migrant workers, facilitate skills development and promote international labour mobility as a contributor to national development.
