Labour Minister Warns Against Illegal Overseas Recruitment
The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, has issued a stern warning to Sierra Leoneans against using unlicensed recruitment agencies when seeking employment opportunities abroad.
The warning follows an incident in which 12 citizens were allegedly abandoned at an airport in Guinea with fraudulent travel and labour documents. Speaking at a press conference organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on September 15, 2026, Minister Koroma revealed that over 2,300 Sierra Leoneans have traveled through Guinea’s airport for foreign employment, underscoring the urgent need for stringent regulation of overseas labour migration.
Minister Koroma identified Explore Sierra Leone Ltd and Daresallam Travelling and Employment Recruitment Agency (SL) Limited as the two entities linked to the stranded job seekers. He noted that Daresallam's operating licence had been suspended since 2024, rendering its operations unlawful. Authorities confirmed that official documents presented by the victims, purportedly issued by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labour, were fraudulent.
Consequently, the matter has been referred to the police for full investigation, and a Ministry staff member has been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning.
Highlighting the grave dangers of unmonitored migration, Minister Koroma warned that poorly managed or criminalized labour recruitment exposes job seekers to human trafficking, forced labor, and extreme forms of exploitation, including organ harvesting.
In direct response to the situation in Guinea, the government has issued an immediate temporary directive suspending all overseas employment recruitment that routes Sierra Leonean workers through Guinea, reaffirming its commitment to safe, legal, and dignified migration pathways.
The Ministry regulates overseas recruitment under the Overseas Employment and Migrant Workers Act 2023. To further protect local workers and streamline employment, the government is actively implementing the Employment Act 2023, which mandates that qualified Sierra Leoneans be given priority for domestic employment before foreign workers are considered.
Additionally, the Ministry is taking steps to enhance the National Employment Portal and enforce strict compliance with residential and work permit regulations across the country.
Urging public vigilance, Minister Koroma advised all citizens seeking work overseas to consult the Ministry directly as their first and final point of reference for verified opportunities. He called for tighter supervision of recruitment agencies and strict monitoring of migration processes, warning that anyone engaging in illegal recruitment will face the full force of the law.
Finally, the Minister encouraged citizens to actively report suspected cases of illegal recruitment, emphasizing that curbing human trafficking requires collective action.
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