By Amin Kef (Ranger)
In a powerful display of leadership at the 2026 National Labour Conference, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh signaled a decisive shift in Sierra Leone’s economic strategy, moving the nation from the era of blueprints to a relentless era of “action and proof.”
Addressing a packed hall of workers, union leaders and private sector employers on May 1, 2026, at the Miatta Conference Centre, the Vice President positioned the Sierra Leonean worker as the primary catalyst for the nation’s transformation. The event, themed: “Building Worker’s Power for Sierra Leone’s Transformative Agenda,” served as both a celebration of recent policy achievements and a bold roadmap for the country’s digital future.
In a stirring keynote speech, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh rejected the traditional view of labour as a passive recipient of aid, emphasizing instead its central role in national progress.
“The real engine of Sierra Leone’s transformation is not foreign investment or Government planning; it is the millions of workers showing up every single day to build this country,” he stated.
He further stressed that under the current administration, workers have been elevated to their rightful place in the national hierarchy.
“Workers are not beneficiaries; they are the architects of development,” he declared.
The Vice President highlighted a string of legislative gains that have directly improved livelihoods across the country since 2018.
Among the key achievements, he pointed to historic wage increases, noting that the national minimum wage has been raised to NLe 1,200, representing a significant 66 percent increase from previous levels.
He also underscored efforts to include the informal sector in national development policies. In what he described as a landmark move, the Government is extending social protection measures to market women, artisans and fishermen; groups he said have long operated outside the reach of formal economic systems.
On gender equity, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to enforcing equal pay for equal work and expanding financial access for women-led businesses, positioning gender inclusion as a cornerstone of sustainable economic growth.
Beyond traditional labour concerns, the Vice President outlined a forward-looking vision for Sierra Leone’s participation in the global digital economy.
He emphasized that technology is no longer a distant prospect but an immediate reality creating new opportunities, particularly for young people.
“Opportunity without protection is ‘cheap exposure,’” Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh warned, stressing that as Sierra Leoneans engage with global digital platforms, they must do so under conditions that guarantee fair wages and adequate protections.
He described the Government’s investment in vocational training and digital skills development as a “core economic strategy,” aimed at equipping the workforce with the tools needed to compete in an increasingly digital world.
Concluding his address, the Vice President called for a renewed sense of shared responsibility among Government, labour unions and employers.
He urged employers to see a skilled and empowered workforce as a long-term investment rather than a cost, assuring citizens that the Government remains committed to delivering on its promises.
“Sierra Leoneans are not waiting any longer,” he said. “2026 is the year we move from intention to execution and from promise to proof.”
