By Saidu Jalloh (D.S), Reporter
The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has convened a high-level consultative meeting with leading overseas private employment agencies to review the safety and welfare of Sierra Leonean migrant workers employed in parts of the Middle East.
The meeting, held in Freetown on 30 March 2026, brought together key stakeholders to share operational updates, review welfare monitoring arrangements, and address concerns affecting Sierra Leoneans working abroad amid shifting regional circumstances.
Welcoming the participants, the Permanent Secretary, Joseph Teckman Kanu, said the engagement provides a platform for agencies and relevant stakeholders to exchange information and ensure effective oversight of workers abroad.
In his address, the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, said recruitment agencies are essential pathways through which Sierra Leoneans obtain overseas employment. He noted that recent developments in some Middle Eastern countries require direct engagement with agencies to obtain reliable, firsthand updates on the welfare of Sierra Leonean workers.
Representatives from participating agencies provided briefings on their monitoring and deployment numbers. *SOS Travels Agency, through **Yusuf Conteh, reported maintaining *weekly contact with Sierra Leonean workers in Dubai, stating that all workers under their supervision are safe.
For *HRGSL, *Jeremiah Johnson informed the meeting that the organisation currently has approximately *200 workers in Saudi Arabia, **79 in Qatar, and *30 in Dubai. He said while all workers remain safe, some continue to express apprehension due to regional developments.
*Kemokai Recruitment Agency, represented by **Clifford P. Williams, reported that it has **15 workers in Dubai, all of whom are safe. The agency said it monitors staff through daily communication using a dedicated *WhatsApp platform.
*Explore SL Ltd, represented by **Sheku Kanneh, stated that the company deployed *30 female workers to Dubai in the previous year and assured the Ministry that all workers remain safe.
*First International Recruitment, through **Rev. B. Kallon, said the company is comparatively new and has not yet deployed workers abroad. However, he stated that its Managing Director is currently in *Dubai engaging potential partner companies in preparation for future recruitment and placement.
The Chief Executive Officer of Malador Travels Agency also commended the Ministry for convening the engagement. He disclosed that while the agency had previously not deployed workers to the Middle East, it recently facilitated the travel of *15 Sierra Leoneans to Qatar, with a further *20 workers scheduled to depart by the end of the month.
Concluding the meeting, Minister Swaray emphasized the need for continuous engagement, regular communication, and periodic visits to workers abroad to ensure their safety and protect their rights. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of Sierra Leonean migrant workers overseas.
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