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President Koroma of Sierra Leone pledges support for Project

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President Koroma of Sierra Leone pledges support for Project

President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone has pledged support for a trade union initiative by TUC Aid to improve the welfare of workers.

President Koroma, speaking at Maitta Conference Centre, Free Town, on 12 August 2008 at the launch of the education and campaign material produced under the Rebuilding Trade Union Capacity in Sierra Leone Project implemented by the Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC) in partnership with TUC Aid, told the gathering that his Government was currently revising the labour laws, that the enactment of the revised legislation would improve working conditions and that his Government would uphold tripartite agreements.

President Koroma at the Launch


The Rebuilding Trade Union Capacity in Sierra Leone Project funded by the UK Department for International Development at a cost of £400,000 over three and half years is aimed at rebuilding union membership, raising awareness of rights and entitlements of workers in all sectors of the economy and strengthening the labour law enforcement through a programme of education and training and lobbying activities. The Project, launched in July 2007, in its first year saw the establishment of a well-functioning office with a project team consisting of a project leader and an administrator working in close collaboration with the SLLC leadership and the SLLC Education Department, development of training and educational material and the launch of key activities.

The training and education programme is well underway and has benefitted all SLLC affiliates and covered all regions. By the end of the first year 216 trade unionists had participated in nine workshops and 35 per cent of the participants were women. All courses have been well subscribed and the project is well on course to meet its targets. Gender issues have been addressed, but there is considerable scope for more work in this regard and also in relation to youth participation. The outcome of contacts with the President of the Republic and the Minister of Labour and Social Security on the need for the ratification of ILO Conventions 138 and 182 has been positive. The SLLC and affiliates have initiated dialogue with relevant authorities on the more effective enforcement of workers' rights and entitlements in the formal sector.

Organising workers in Free Town, Sierra Leone


There has been significant progress in capacity building activities. Affiliates have started adopting effective organising strategies. Membership has grown by some 9% relative to baseline data while five new affiliates (including some informal sector organisations) have joined the national centre. In addition, profile-raising strategies have resulted in increased coverage in the media for the Project and trade unions in general. The Project team has developed close relations with SLLC affiliates and other stakeholders and strengthened the position of the SLLC as the national trade union centre both vis-à-vis its affiliates and the Government.

The strengthening of union structures, institutions and networks and the more effective enforcement of labour legislation will enable unions to improve members' wages and working conditions through collective bargaining and benefit their families and communities.

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