Sierra Leone

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

→ View IIAG Country Statistics

(To be linked)

• ECOWAS
• CEN-SAD

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.

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.

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.

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.

Domestic work is not governed by a dedicated legal framework.

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

Street vending operates largely within the informal economy.

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

Waste reclaiming is largely informal.

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

No specific legislation governs home working.

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

The platform economy is emerging but remains unregulated.

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

Agriculture is a major sector of employment.

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

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.

Transport services operate largely informally.

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

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

• 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