Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Sierra Leone (Ratification: 1961)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - Sierra Leone (Ratification: 2021)

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) of the Convention. Compulsory agricultural work. Over many years, the Committee has been referring to section 8(h) of the Chiefdom Councils Act (Cap. 61), under which compulsory cultivation may be imposed on “natives”. On numerous occasions, it requested the Government to repeal or amend this provision. The Committee also noted the Government’s statement that the abovementioned section is not in conformity with article 9 of the Constitution and would be held unenforceable. The Committee noted the Government’s repeated indication that section 8(h) is not applicable in practice and that information on any amendment of this section would be communicated to the ILO in the near future. The Committee notes with serious concern the absence of information from the Government on this point. Recalling that the Government has repeatedly indicated since 1964 that this legislation would be amended, the Committee regrets to note that no action has been taken in this regard. Therefore the Committee reiterates the firm hope that the necessary measures will at last be taken in order to bring section 8(h) of the Chiefdom Councils Act into conformity with the Convention and the indicated practice. It requests the Government to provide, in its next report, information on the progress made in this regard.