Sierra Leone to bring into force ILO convention on occupational safety and health

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson – (AR-WILSON)

Sierra Leone for the first time is on course to bring into force like other nations have done, the International Labour Organisation Mandate since the law was adopted at the 95^th International Labour Conference held in Geneva in June 2006.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security have successfully regularized the ILO Convention Number-187 on occupational safety and health protection through its occupational and health safety unit, the unit’s director Mohamed Alhaji Koroma told Northern Times in Makeni at a regional consultative meeting with key stakeholders in the Northern Region in June.

Mr. Koroma while explaining the need for holding such meeting said it is part of the occupational safety and health unit's mandate to meet and engage various stakeholders from key institutions including Ministries, Agencies and Departments in all the regions of the country. 

He further disclosed that the East and Southern regions have already added their voices and knowledge to the national document which himself and team are putting together to help curb the very many challenges employees in the country are encountering.

“We have completed the first phase of the draft process of this law and previous finding have already been validated and once we conclude the regional engagement, a national dialogue will be staged in the country’s capital Freetown probably in July this year and all data from the various stakeholders will be shared by myself and the consultant to all those that took part to critic, add or make further imputes  before we merge the final document that will be tabled to the central government through the ministry for approval of parliament in due course.” He explained.

It was estimated by ILO that about 42,000 workers passes on weekly worldwide as a result of work related accidents, illnesses among other hazards employees encounter at their various workplaces. This forms 4% of world GDP, or more than 20 times the global percentage of official development assistance.

By bringing into force the No.187 ILO convention Sierra Leone automatically commits itself to strengthen its occupational safety and health systems at the same time will encourage other countries to cope which is undoubtedly a realistic approach for creating very safe and healthy working environment for all workers in the West African Nation, Bombali District’s SLRSA deputy route and sector commander, Alimamy Sesay and some Northern region key stakeholders that took part in the day’s event told Northern Times.