By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has announced that enforcement of the Work Permit Act, 2023 will be expanded to Sierra Leone’s international airports, seaports and land border crossings beginning Monday, 29 June 2026, as part of the Government’s nationwide drive to strengthen compliance with labour and immigration laws.
The announcement follows a three-day compliance and enforcement mission to Bo and Kenema led by the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, who reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that all foreign nationals working in Sierra Leone possess valid work permits and resident permits in accordance with the law.
The latest move comes after five foreign nationals travelling on an Air Peace flight from Kenema on Friday, 26 June 2026, were denied boarding during immigration clearance after failing to present authentic resident documentation. Although the action was taken under existing immigration procedures, the Ministry described the incident as a clear demonstration of the Government’s determination to strengthen compliance at all official entry and exit points.
Speaking at the conclusion of the enforcement mission, the Minister said the airport action sends a strong signal that Sierra Leone’s labour and immigration laws will be strictly enforced.
“Today’s airport action sends a clear message that compliance with Sierra Leone’s laws will be rigorously enforced. Beginning Monday, our enforcement will be expanded to include work permit compliance at airports, seaports and land border crossings. Every non-national who is required by law to hold a Work Permit must be able to produce one, together with a valid Resident Permit. Employers also have a legal responsibility to ensure their foreign employees are fully compliant,” he stated.
Mohamed Rahman Swaray emphasized that Sierra Leone remains open to genuine investment and skilled foreign professionals but stressed that all investors and foreign workers must respect the country’s legal framework governing employment and immigration.
The nationwide enforcement exercise formed part of a broader compliance mission during which the Minister engaged employers, conducted workplace inspections and met with the Southern and Eastern Regional Police Commands to strengthen collaboration between the Ministry, the Sierra Leone Police, the Sierra Leone Immigration Department, the Office of National Security and other enforcement institutions responsible for implementing the Employment Act, 2023 and the Work Permit Act, 2023.
Commissioner of Labour and Employment, Sinneh Bockarie, said stronger coordination among state institutions would significantly improve regulatory compliance while protecting Sierra Leone’s labour market.
“Labour compliance is a shared national responsibility. By working together, Labour, Immigration, the Police, the Office of National Security and our implementation partners are strengthening regulatory compliance, protecting the integrity of Sierra Leone’s labour market and enhancing national security,” he said.
During the inspections, officials visited several workplaces in Bo and Kenema, including Splash Purified Water Company, First Tricon Limited, Dorwaila Hotel and Hill Top Hotel, where employers were directed to address various violations relating to employment contracts, workplace safety, payment of the national minimum wage, NASSIT registration and work permit requirements for foreign employees.
At Splash Purified Water Company, inspectors discovered that the recently approved national minimum wage of Le1,200 had not been implemented for eligible workers. The company was issued an Improvement Notice and given seven days to correct salary discrepancies and occupational health and safety concerns.
First Tricon Limited was also instructed to regularize the work permit status of all foreign employees, submit workers’ contracts for verification, register with the Occupational Safety and Health Department and ensure full compliance with labour and social security laws.
Addressing Managements of businesses visited during the exercise, Commissioner Sinneh Bockarie said the Ministry has abandoned its previous complaint-driven approach in favour of proactive nationwide inspections.
“We are no longer waiting in our offices in Freetown for complaints before taking action. We are taking the Ministry to workplaces across the country to ensure employers comply with the Employment Act and the Work Permit Act, 2023. These inspections enable us to engage employers directly, identify areas of non-compliance, provide immediate guidance where necessary and enforce the law effectively,” he said.
The Ministry has advised all employers and foreign nationals to ensure that valid resident permits and work permits are obtained before engaging in employment, warning that compliance inspections will continue nationwide as Government intensifies enforcement of the Employment Act, 2023 and the Work Permit Act, 2023 to safeguard workers’ rights, promote lawful employment practices and strengthen workplace standards across Sierra Leone.
