The Honourable Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Friday January 10, 2025, made an unannounced visit to the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security (MELSS). This visit was part of the ongoing Presidency and Ministerial engagements designed to evaluate the activities of various Government Ministries.
The Presidency and Ministerial Engagements initiative, spearheaded by the Presidency, aims to routinely inspect Ministries to assess their work, plans and challenges. This proactive approach ensures that the Presidency receives firsthand information, enabling it to provide the necessary support for these Ministries to fulfill their mandates effectively.
During his visit, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh engaged in discussions with the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, along with senior staff members. The discussions revolved around key labour and employment policies. The Vice President was given a detailed briefing on the Ministry’s achievements over the past year, including updates on job creation, safe migration agreements with private sector companies, apprenticeship schemes, dispute resolution mechanisms and the development of the National Volunteering Policy, which is set to be presented to the Cabinet this year.
Minister Swarray outlined the Ministry’s ambitious plans for 2025. He highlighted the intention to submit the Workers Compensation, Social Protection and Safety Bill to Parliament for enactment. “These bills aim to improve the welfare of workers by ensuring fair pay, adequate compensation and a safe working environment,” Minister Swarray explained.
Additionally, the Minister announced plans for a grand May Day celebration that will focus on promoting social dialogue, job creation and skills development. This event will also feature an award ceremony to recognize institutions excelling in areas such as occupational safety and health, job creation, investment, NASSIT contributions, workers’ compensation, minimum wage compliance and better terms of service.
The Minister also assured the Vice President of the Ministry’s commitment to implementing a succession plan, localization and leadership development to ensure Sierra Leoneans are well-positioned to assume leadership and management roles in various companies.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh expressed his satisfaction with the Ministry’s progress and praised Minister Swarray’s vision for transforming the labour sector. He commended the Ministry’s efforts to consolidate workplace peace and harmony and the use of technology to monitor the labour market through the Labour Market Information System (LMIS) and the digitization of work permits.
To further understand the Ministry’s infrastructure challenges, the Vice President toured the ongoing office construction site. He acknowledged the Ministry’s resilience and assured them of his unwavering support to ensure the building’s completion and functionality.
The Vice President’s visit underscored the Government’s commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of its Ministries and supporting their initiatives to improve the livelihoods of Sierra Leoneans.
