Freetown, 5th November 2026- The Government of Sierra Leone has announced a nationwide compliance verification and spot-check exercise aimed at ensuring that foreign nationals working in the country possess valid work permits and comply with labour laws.
In a press release issued on November 5, 2026, the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security said the exercise follows a notice issued two weeks ago requesting foreign workers to regularize their work permit status in line with existing regulations.
According to the ministry, the inspection drive forms part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enforce mandatory registration requirements for foreign nationals and strengthen adherence to the provisions of the Work Permit Act, 2023.
A dedicated task force will carry out targeted and unannounced inspections at workplaces, business premises, institutions, project sites and other locations where foreign nationals are engaged in employment or business activities.
The ministry said the operation is intended to verify compliance with labour regulations relating to work permits and ensure that foreign workers operating in Sierra Leone are doing so within the confines of the law.
Employers and foreign nationals have been urged to ensure that all relevant labour documents are valid, updated and readily available for inspection at all times.
The ministry further warned that failure to comply with work permit requirements will attract enforcement measures in accordance with the laws of Sierra Leone. Such actions may include penalties and the closure of business premises found to be in violation of the regulations.
The latest move signals government’s determination to tighten oversight of foreign employment and ensure that labour standards are observed across all sectors of the economy.
Officials have called on employers and foreign workers to cooperate fully with inspectors during the exercise and to take immediate steps to address any outstanding compliance issues.
