====== Sierra Leone ======

**Region:** Western Africa  
**Regional Economic Communities (REC):** ECOWAS · CEN-SAD  

→ [[https://iiag.online/locations/sl.html|View IIAG Country Statistics]]

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^ Indicator ^ Data ^
| **Governance (IIAG)** | Overall Governance score: 53 / 100 · Rank: 23rd / 54 · [[https://iiag.online/locations/sl.html|View IIAG Country Statistics]] |

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===== PART 1 – HIGH-LEVEL COUNTRY MAPPING =====

==== Institutions and Stakeholder Database ====
(To be linked)

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==== REC Membership ====

  * ECOWAS  
  * CEN-SAD  

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==== Population size and size of the informal economy ====

Sierra Leone has a predominantly informal economy, with a significant proportion of the labour force engaged in:

  * Small-scale agriculture  
  * Informal trade  
  * Artisanal mining  
  * Transport services  

The informal economy constitutes a major source of employment, with limited access to formal labour protections and social security systems.

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==== Nature of the legal system and ILO status ====

Sierra Leone operates a **mixed legal system**, combining common law, customary law, and statutory law.

Sierra Leone has been a member of the **International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1961** and participates in the **Decent Work Agenda**, including the implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes.

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==== Workers’ rights in human rights system, national labour law / social protection and scope of protection ====

Workers’ rights are governed by:

  * The **Constitution of Sierra Leone (1991)**  
  * The **Regulation of Wages and Industrial Relations Act**  
  * The **Employers and Employed Act**  

Key protections include:

  * Freedom of association  
  * Protection against forced labour  
  * Basic employment standards  

However:

  * Labour protections are primarily oriented toward formal employment  
  * Informal workers have limited legal recognition  
  * Enforcement capacity remains constrained  

Social protection coverage remains limited, particularly for workers in the informal economy.

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==== Existing laws, policy and regulatory initiatives for the protection of workers in the informal economy ====

Sierra Leone has adopted policy measures aimed at:

  * Poverty reduction and employment creation  
  * Expansion of social protection systems  
  * Support for informal sector livelihoods  

These initiatives remain **largely policy-driven rather than legally enforceable frameworks**.

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===== PART 2 – SECTOR SPECIFIC REGULATION =====

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==== Domestic Work Sector ====

Domestic work is not governed by a dedicated legal framework.

  * Covered indirectly under general labour laws  
  * Limited enforcement in private households  

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==== Street Vendor ====

Street vending operates largely within the informal economy.

  * Regulated at the municipal level  
  * Subject to local by-laws, licensing, and public order regulations  

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==== Waste Reclaiming ====

Waste reclaiming is largely informal.

  * No dedicated legal framework  
  * Regulated indirectly through environmental and municipal waste management systems  

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==== Home working ====

No specific legislation governs home working.

  * General labour laws apply where an employment relationship exists  
  * Informal home-based workers remain largely unregulated  

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==== Gig Work and the Platform Economy ====

The platform economy is emerging but remains unregulated.

  * No legal framework for classification or protection of gig workers  
  * Workers typically treated as self-employed  

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==== Farm Work ====

Agriculture is a major sector of employment.

  * Governed by general labour laws and agricultural policies  
  * Employment relationships are often informal  

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==== The Mining Sector and Artisanal Mining ====

**Mines and Minerals Development Act (2009)**  

  * Governs mining operations, including artisanal mining  
  * Recognises small-scale and artisanal mining activities  
  * Provides licensing requirements  

Artisanal mining plays a significant role in employment but remains partly informal.

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==== Taxi and Transport Sector (Gig-work/platform economy overlap) ====

Transport services operate largely informally.

  * Regulated through road traffic and transport laws  
  * Focus on licensing, safety, and operational standards  

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==== Cross-Border Informal Trade ====

Cross-border trade is shaped by:

  * ECOWAS regional frameworks  
  * National customs and immigration laws  

Informal trade remains widespread due to:

  * High transaction costs  
  * Administrative barriers  

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===== Sources / Links =====

  * IIAG – Sierra Leone: https://iiag.online/locations/sl.html  
  * Constitution of Sierra Leone (1991)  
  * Mines and Minerals Development Act (2009)  
  * ILO – Decent Work Country Programme  
  * ECOWAS Frameworks