Sierra Leone’s Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has pleaded with the governing council of the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) to explore more diplomatic ways in dealing with countries who default in the payment of their yearly membership subscription to ARLAC.
The Minister was speaking on Wednesday, 14th February, 2024, at the 50th ARLAC Governing Council Meeting held at the PrideInn Paradise Hotel, in Mombasa, Kenya.
He stated that there is need for the Council to continue its efforts to engage countries with serious arrears rather than pursuing suspension and subsequently, expulsion.
Minister Swaray noted that the point of suspension and expulsion was becoming redundant, citing the case of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, who had all voluntarily opted out of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“I do not desire to see this trend replicated in the ARCLAC, this is why I believe the Council should continue to engage these defaulting countries,” he emphasized.
He committed that Sierra Leone will team up with Nigeria, which had been in conversation with defaulting countries, to prevail on them to honour their financial obligations to ARLAC.
While thanking the Kenyan Government for its hospitality, the Sierra Leone Labour Minister congratulated ARLAC “for surviving 50 years of turbulence” and described the meeting as “insightful.”
His commitment for Sierra Leone to join Nigeria in engaging defaulting countries was endorsed by the Chairperson of ARLAC’s Governing Council, the Honourable Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, from Zimbabwe, July G. Moyo.
Minister Swaray also joined colleague ministers and other delegates on conducted tours to factories and other employment facilities around Mombasa.
