Sierra Leone Orders Surprise Nationwide Inspections of Foreign Workers' Permits
Employers and foreign nationals who lack valid work permits could face fines or have premises closed, the labour ministry warned, under the Work Permit Act of 2023.
See where this is ›FREETOWN, Sierra Leone —
Sierra Leone's Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has announced unannounced inspections across the country to check that foreign nationals and the employers who hire them hold valid work permits, The Calabash Newspaper in Freetown reported Nov. 6. The ministry issued its press release on Thursday, Nov. 5. Umaru Napoleon Koroma is the minister.
See where this is ›The inspections are meant to enforce the Work Permit Act, 2023, and will cover workplaces, businesses, institutions and project sites, according to the report. A task force will carry out spot checks to make sure foreign workers are registered and their papers are in order.
The ministry said employers and foreign nationals should make sure all labour documents, including work permits, are “valid, updated and readily available for inspection.” It warned that failing to meet the rules “would result in enforcement measures,” which may include fines and closing business premises found in violation.
The crackdown follows a notice issued about two weeks earlier telling foreign nationals to comply with work permit requirements, The Calabash reported. The ministry did not say when the inspections would begin or how long they will last.
What we don't know yet: The report did not say whether charities, churches, mission groups or volunteers are treated differently under the law, how large the fines could be, or when the first inspections will take place. Watchman News did not see the ministry's release itself and is relying on The Calabash's account.
