By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura

The International Labour Organization together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has launched the second phase of the Sierra Leone Decent Work Country Programme for 2023-2027 on Thursday 24th May, 2023 at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown.

Giving his keynote address, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Mr. Alpha Osman Timbo said that he is delighted to witness the launch of the 2ND Decent Work Country Programme which the Abuja Office started in 2021.

He said the second generation of the DWCP for Sierra Leone would help to address key issues of the labour market such as equal pay for work of equal value, balancing of care responsibilities and work, violence and harassment at work, eliminating discrimination and child labour, equality of opportunity and treatment, and promoting inclusive labour protection mechanism for migrant workers, adding thatthe Sierra Leone DWCP I is the second generation for Sierra Leone being that the first DWCP 2010- 2012 ended in 2012 and an evaluation was carried out through the Country Programme Review (CPR) and thereafter, several attempts were made to develop a new one but none of the processes were completed, “we are grateful that here we are today launching a new DWCP for Sierra Leone,” he stated.

Mr. Timbo revealed that the 2ND DWCP is aligned with the government Medium Term National Development Programme and the 2023 Sierra Leone People’s (SLPP) Manifesto. He assured ILO that government will be committed to honour its obligation towards the implementation of the second phase of the DWCP 2023-2027.

The Regional and Country Director for the International Labour Organization (ILO), Madam Vanesa Phala in her remarks stated that she is delighted to witness the launch of the DWCP which the Abuja Office started in 2021.

She said the Sierra Leone DWCP II is the second generation for Sierra Leone being that the first DWCP 2010-2012 ended in 2012 and an evaluation was carried out through the Country Programme Review, adding that several attempts were made to develop a new one but none of the processes were completed, “we are grateful that here we are today launching a new DWCP for Sierra Leone,” she averred.

She revealed that the process of formulating the Sierra Leone DWCP II started in 2021 with the conduct of a diagnostic study on the decent work situation in Sierra Leone. She added that it was followed with a validation and priority setting workshop in July 2022 held at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Madam Vanesa Phala stated that the Sierra Leone DWCP has identified 3 priorities which are quite relevant in addressing the challenges of decent work which are employment creation, enhanced social dialogue and expanding social protection.

According to the ILO Regional Coordinator, the launching of the 2ND DWCP 2023-2027 is aimed at arousing the interest of all to see employment issues as one of the critical thrusts of the government and a tool for the government and people of Sierra Leone to tackle unemployment especially for the youths that has become a common decimal in the world today.

“The importance of decent work in promoting inclusive growth cannot be over- emphasized and this has been aptly captured in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal 8 which aims to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all,” she said, adding that decent work is central to achieving the Abidjan Declaration, AU Agenda 2063 and other development frameworks including the ECOWAS Policy on Labour and Employment. She carried on that a country cannot have sustainable peace and social justice without decent work.

The ILO Country and Regional Director assured that the DWCP is a forward-looking document that speaks to the targets of the development frameworks.

“It is our hope therefore, that the full implementation of this DWCP will assist the people of Sierra Leone to achieve not only goal 8 but the other goals inclusive since these goals are interrelated. It will also support the government of Sierra Leone to implement and achieve the aspirations of Africa on addressing decent work deficits as articulated in Abidjan Declaration and AU Agenda 2063,” she stated.

Madam Vanesa Phala carried on that the 2ND DWCP being launched is a tool to social and economic challenges facing the country and to ensure job rich inclusive and sustainable growth, adding that it is also an instrument that can be used by the government and social partners to mobilize resources which will be used to address the issues of productive employment and decent work.

She added that the success of the implementation of the 2ND DWCP 2023-2027 will require the collaborative efforts of all the relevant stakeholders including the trade unions and employers’ organization.

She reiterated the commitment of ILO in working with all the relevant stakeholders in ensuring the full implementation of the DWCP1 and called on all the partners in Sierra Leone to build a strong partnership and support the effort of the government in promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable growth through productive employment, and decent work which can be achieved through the implementation of the DWCP.

The Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress, Max Korombo Conteh in his goodwill speech said the DWCP 2 has four strategic objectives which are Employment, Social Protection, Social dialogue and Right at work providing the overarching framework for ILO programming at the country level.

He said the 2008 ILO Declaration on Social Justice for Fair Globalization underscores, the four strategic objectives are interrelated, inseparable and mutually reinforcing, adding that their integrated pursuit at the national level depends on ILO support and consistency through diverse policies.

The Labour Congress Secretary General said that he is proud to align the Trade Union movement in Sierra Leone to the Decent Work approach to Country Programme and to announce that their recently enacted revised Labour Law takes note of the DWCP 2 and their Tripartite Constituents is very formidable, active and willing to address Decent Work strategic objectives.

He furthered that, as the Government of Sierra Leone puts human development as key component in their agenda, the Trade Unions believes that this agenda is laudable and in the right direction.

“Launching the Decent Work Country Programme in Sierra Leone today indicates the commitment of ILO towards the strategic objectives of Decent Work. We call on all concerned to ensure that we put our best in achieving the SDG’s specifically Goal 8 in this context,” he ended.

In his goodwill message, the Vice President for the Sierra Leone Employers’ Federation (SLEF) Tamba Allieu Kokobaye said SLEF is very proud with the collaboration of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to have successfully reached the stage of launching the DWCP 2, adding that the DWCP 1 document stood the test of time from 2010-2012. He added that the DWCP2 for 2023-2027 helps to mobilize resource and create decent work in freedom, safety and dignity.

The SLEF Vice President said the DWCP 2 is a step in the right direction as it aims to improve the condition of decent working and fair wages, adding that the country is now set with a platform for positive trajectory as SLEF is working hard towards the creation of decent jobs for all Sierra Leoneans.