Occupational Safety and Health Needsin Sierra Leone’s Agricultural SMEs

Safer Farms, Stronger Workforce: Sierra Leone Champions Agricultural Safety

The Ministry of Employment, Labour, and Social Security, with the ILO, Sierra Leone Labour Congress, and Employers Federation, is developing a national occupational safety and health framework for agricultural SMEs to promote safer practices, boost productivity, and strengthen livelihoods. The effort promotes safer practices to boost productivity, ensure compliance with labour laws, and strengthen livelihoods across the agricultural value chain.

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Bringing Safety to the Fields: National Workshop

From September 4 to 6, 2025, the Ministry of Employment, Labour, and Social Security hosted a national workshop at Wusum Hotel in Makeni City, in partnership with the ILO, Sierra Leone Labour Congress, and Sierra Leone Employers Federation under the theme “Foundation and Planning.” The three-day event aimed to assess Sierra Leone’s Occupational Safety and Health landscape and begin developing a national OSH framework for agricultural SMEs. Agriculture, employing over 60 percent of the workforce and contributing significantly to GDP, remains one of the country’s most hazardous sectors. The workshop laid the groundwork for safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces. The session opened with remarks from Mr. Osman Conteh and was chaired by Mr. Choblee Francis Kamara, Deputy Commissioner of Labour, while several dignitaries highlighted the urgency and opportunities of this initiative.

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Yvette Kargbo, representing the Sierra Leone Employers Federation, described the workshop as timely and essential. She emphasized the need for a customized OSH manual for agricultural SMEs to help employers meet national laws and international standards. “Together we can strengthen occupational safety and health in agricultural creativity, ” she noted, adding that productivity starts with preventing workplace hazards.

Leaders Call for a Culture of Safety and Accountability

Sarah Thomas Kamara, Vice President of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress, thanked the ILO and partners for their continued collaboration and reminded participants that workplace safety is a fundamental human right. “Safety is not optional... compliance requires obeying the law, ” she stressed, urging collective commitment to safe and fair work environments

Aiah Lebbie, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry, highlighted agriculture’s key role in national development and the risks workers face from chemicals, machinery, and other preventable hazards. “Together, we can transform the agricultural landscape into one where safety is paramount, productivity is assured, and every worker returns home unharmed, ” he affirmed.

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Collaboration for Practical Solutions

Participants worked in groups to review reference materials, identify gaps, and outline the structure of the forthcoming OSH manual for agricultural SMEs. The collaborative design ensured that the framework reflects the real-world conditions faced by small enterprises from resource limitations to informal practices. Rather than producing theoretical guidelines, discussions focused on simple, actionable safety measures that SMEs can adopt immediately, such as proper storage of chemicals, use of protective gear, and safe machine operation. This approach ensures that the OSH manual will be practical, context-specific, and sustainable.

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"Closing the session, Abdul Karim Conteh, Director at the Ministry of Labour, reaffirmed that protecting agricultural workers is not just a labour issue it is “central to national development. ”

A Milestone for Safer Agricultre

The 2025 OSH workshop in Makeni strengthened Sierra Leone’s agricultural workforce by uniting government, employers, and workers around prevention and safety. The national OSH framework’s success will be seen in lives protected, accidents prevented, and safer workplaces for all.