The Sierra Leone government has given a local travel agency five working days to produce employment contracts for 28 Sierra Leoneans taken to Qatar, amid concerns over their welfare and legal status.
In a public notice issued today, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security said it had received information from the Sierra Leone Embassy in Qatar indicating that Malador Travel Agency, working with some Sierra Leoneans resident in the Gulf state, had recruited the group under the pretext of securing jobs for them.
The ministry said the matter was being treated with “utmost seriousness”, warning that irregular recruitment practices expose migrants to risks relating to their safety, legal status and financial security.
The agency had been summoned and instructed to submit duly authenticated contracts for each of the 28 workers already transported to Qatar.
Failure to comply could lead to the repatriation of the affected Sierra Leoneans and the suspension or revocation of the agency’s licence, according to the ministry.
The government stated it was working closely with the Sierra Leone Embassy in Qatar to safeguard the rights and welfare of the migrants.
The ministry also expressed concern over reports that some agencies and individuals were recruiting Sierra Leoneans for jobs in Russia and other conflict zones.
The government strongly opposed citizens travelling abroad for employment, particularly in the defence sector, through unauthorised schemes that could endanger their lives.
The ministry warned that legal action would be taken against individuals and agencies found to be involved in unlawful recruitment activities, adding that Sierra Leone remained committed to promoting safe, orderly and regular labour migration.
