ILO, Government of Sierra Leone and Social Partners Launch The SL-DWCP II 2023-2027 in Freetown

Freetown (ILO News): The ILO in conjunction with the government of Sierra Leone, Social Partners, and other partners across the country on 25th May 2023 launched the Sierra Leone Decent Work Country Programme (SL-DWCP) 2023-2027 in a well-attended event by key stakeholders at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Aberdeen - Freetown.

Over the years, lack of decent and productive employment, and underemployment had remained a huge challenge to the achievement of effective socio-economic development in the country. To address this challenge, the Sierra Leone Decent Work Country Programme (SL-DWCP) was formulated with the support of the ILO to serve as one of the important measures towards creating decent work opportunities for citizens of the country.

The development of the second generation of the SL-DWCP witnessed the effective participation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC), Sierra Leone Employers Federation (SLEF), and other relevant stakeholders including Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Government.

The SL-DWCP aims to mobilize available resources to create jobs in safe working conditions where Sierra Leoneans, especially women, youth, people with disabilities (PWD), and other vulnerable groups, can work in freedom, safety, and dignity. The three essential priorities identified in the framework include employment creation, social protection, and social dialogue.



Speaking at the occasion, the hon. minister, MLSS, Mr. Alpha Timbo stated that the priorities identified were fully aligned with the four strategic objectives of ILO, regional and international frameworks, mainly the Decent Work Agenda for Africa, the Abidjan Declaration, AU Agenda 2063, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which would enable the Government of Sierra Leone to achieve its vision as articulated in its national development plans. Thus, the Government was delighted to note that all the defined outcomes would allow the country to progress toward Goal No. 8, “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all,” and other relevant SDGs. According to him “the Government is pleased to renew its commitment to promoting the decent work agenda by implementing the second generation of the DWCP for Sierra Leone and will ensure the country’s ownership”.

In his contribution, the President of the Sierra Leone Employers Federation (SLEF) Mr. Kobi Walker, asserts that the implementation of the new DWCP was crucial for the promotion of decent work, social justice, and inclusive growth in Sierra Leone. He pledged the commitment of SLEF to engage and collaborate with the Government and labour unions to ensure that this ambitious program achieved its objectives of improving “the lives of our workers and employers”.

In his submission, Max K. Conteh, Secretary General of SLLC, appealed for involvement of workers in the informal economy in line with the concept of leaving no one behind. He pledged the support of his organization towards the implementation of the DWCP in Sierra Leone, saying, “The leadership of Sierra Leone Labour Congress wholeheartedly welcomes and supports the implementation of the Second Decent Work Country Programme and pledges our support in ensuring that it is achieved.”

In her remarks, the Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Ms Vanessa Phala, stated that the DWCP being launched today is a tool to address social and economic challenges facing the country and would ensure job rich inclusion and sustainable growth. She recognized the importance of the framework as an instrument that could be used by the government and the social partners to mobilize resources which would be used to address the issues of productive employment and decent work in Sierra Leone.

She reminded the stakeholders that “the success of the implementation of the DWCP will require the collaborative efforts of all the relevant stakeholders including the trade unions and employers’ organization, and I wish to reiterate the commitment of ILO in working with all the relevant stakeholders in ensuring the full implementation of the DWCP”. She also 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 could be achieved through the implementation of the DWCP. The Director also noted that the SL-DWCP aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2020-2023 and therefore, the implementation of the DCWP will contribute to support of the UN to the government of Sierra Leone in the achievement of the Agenda 2030.

The highlights of the occasion were the signing and launch of the second generation of the Decent Work Country Programme (SL-DWCP II) framework for Sierra Leone, which resulted from the collaborative and consultative engagements with the tripartite plus constituents. The partners pledged to join in mobilizing all resources to create jobs and ensure decent working conditions for all.