The Sierra Leone Labour Congress has in an effort to retain its membership and to keep abreast with the standards of other countries, reached an agreement with the Ministry of Labour to repeal and completely remove, the bad laws embedded in the labour constitution.
Speaking to Awoko, the Director of Education Max Conteh said the present labour laws have been in existence since the colonial era and that no strong measures were taken in order to amend or to repeal them.
He said that was the reason why members did not take the union serious any longer.
Conteh said these laws should have been structured in order to create impact among members but those who were at the helm of things in the past deliberately refused to do so.
The Director said since the world is now advanced and considering the Socio-Economic and technological development that is rapidly taking place, makes it necessary to review and change some of the laws completely. He said the union has partnered with the Ministry of Labour and the Employers Federation so that the International Labour Organization [I.L.O.] could be consulted and involved in the restructuring of the legislation.
According to the Director he said another review has been made and the documents have been handed over to the Joint Consultative Committee for a review. He said the committee is to go through and then forward it to parliament for approval.
With regards to members registered with the union, he said the union would see to it that their interests are secured and that the unlawful dismissal of workers is properly handled.
This time the interest of women is going to be protected and no employer is going to take them for a ride this time.
Musu Lahai a staff in one of the leading stores in Lumley said the Labour Congress is a cheap organization that has allowed itself to be bought over by employers. She said most workers have lost all that they should have gotten from their employers, due to the negligence of the union. “I hope the review of the legislation this time, would benefit the poor workers instead of the employers.”
By Jon-bu
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