By Joseph Momoh, D.S.
The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has stepped up enforcement of employment law after inspections along the Masiaka–Waterloo Highway uncovered foreign workers without valid permits and multiple safety violations.
A June 22, 2026 operation led by the Commissioner of Labour and Employment targeted factories and trading companies to assess compliance with the Work Permit Act, 2023 and occupational health standards.
At Brama GQ Trading Limited, inspectors found foreign staff working without required documentation. The Commissioner issued a formal warning and gave the company seven days to regularize the status of the affected employees. Non-compliance could trigger suspension of operations and other penalties under the Act, the Ministry said.
Spot checks at Roklyn and Co. and Shop Slipper Manufacturing factories revealed irregularities tied to workplace safety. One facility was served an Improvement Notice mandating immediate corrective action to protect employees.
“Compliance with our work permit regime is not optional,” the Commissioner said during the inspection. “It is central to regulating foreign employment and protecting opportunities for Sierra Leonean workers.”
The Ministry urged all employers hiring foreign nationals to secure and renew permits as required by law. The inspections, officials said, are part of a wider drive to promote decent work, improve workplace safety, and enforce employment regulations nationwide.
Tougher enforcement is planned across the country. Employers found with undocumented foreign staff face fines, administrative sanctions, suspension, or other penalties prescribed by law.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring foreign workers in Sierra Leone are properly documented and lawfully employed, while advancing safe and decent conditions for all employees.
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