Wednesday, November 10, 2021
UAE and Sierra Leone sign memorandum of understanding in manpower sector
The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Sierra Leone have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of manpower to enhance the management of the contractual work cycle for Sierra Leonean workers coming into the country.
The memorandum was signed by His Excellency Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Manan Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization, and His Excellency Rashid Sesay, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the UAE, at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The two sides also signed a bilateral protocol of cooperation in the field of domestic workers as an annex to the Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the procedures for the admission and recruitment of domestic workers from Sierra Leone to the UAE and their employment in accordance with the provisions of the Domestic Workers Law and in compliance with the laws and regulations of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Both sides stressed that the agreement comes within the framework of the two friendly countries' efforts to strengthen cooperative relations and develop an institutional partnership to improve the management of the contractual work cycle of Sierra Leonean workers in the UAE.
Both sides agreed to strengthen the use of technology and exchange information and studies in the field of employment in line with the principles of law and transparency, fair recruitment and mutual interest, as well as strengthen legislation and regulations to combat human trafficking and regulate the work of private recruitment agencies, to establish fair and transparent recruitment practices within their jurisdiction and ensure compliance and rule of law by all parties involved in the process of recruiting and hiring Sierra Leonean workers to work in the UAE.
The two sides also agreed to cooperate in areas related to human resource development and the implementation of pre-departure and post-arrival awareness programs for workers in the UAE.
The memorandum outlines the procedures for bringing workers from Sierra Leone to the UAE in accordance with a specific mechanism that guarantees the transparency of the contract at all stages and in accordance with the laws, regulations and directives in force in both countries, particularly with regard receiving a detailed job offer by the worker before leaving his home country that is consistent in all clauses with the employment contract he signs upon arrival in the country.
The signing of the memorandum was attended by Saif Al-Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization for Human Resources Affairs, Abdullah Al-Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for Communications and International Relations, and a number of officials from both sides.
On the other hand, His Excellency Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Awar, Minister of MOHRE, during his visit to the pavilion accompanied by Rashid Sesay, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the UAE, praised Sierra Leone's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
His Excellency listened to an explanation about the pavilion under the motto "A New Beginning" which takes visitors on a journey to this mineral rich country in West Africa and its cultural heritage, showcasing its customs and traditions as well as the various investment opportunities in Sierra Leone.