Directorate of Social Protection

The Social Protection mandate of the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security includes developing and administering labour and Social Security regulations and policies, employment promotion, maintains cordial Industrial Relations among operatives in the labour market, ensures Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) in work places and provides Social Protection services, including Social Security. Social Protection service delivery has always been, and remains one of the ministry’s core values. The Ministry currently supervises the administration of two social pension schemes: the non-contributory National Social Safety Net (NSSN) social cash transfer scheme that is administered by the Social Safety Net unit of the ministry and the contributory pension scheme being administered by the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT). According to the National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) of Sierra Leone, one of the primary institutions to take the front seat in Social protection

MELSS Social Protection Directorate

The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security now has a Social Protection directorate which was approved by the Civil Service Steering and Grading Committee in 2020. The directorate is responsible for the development and implementation, among other functions of Social Protection policies and programmes within the ministry and beyond. Through the directorate, the ministry collaborates with other Social Protection actors from key MDAs in the administration and implementation of Social protection programmes across Sierra Leone.

Social Protection Bill (2023)

Currently, the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security in collaboration with the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and other MDAs, with funds from the World Bank, is playing the key and leading role in the development of the National Social Protection Bill 2023, which is currently at the Cabinet Secretariat for the approval of Cabinet for further actions.

National Social Safety Net (NSSN)

The Social Safety Net (Social Assistance) programme which was established in 2004 provides cash transfers and food items to identifiable vulnerable aged who are 60 years and above and in dire need, with no regular source of income or support and are unable to undertake any form of economic activity that can earn them income, nor do they have any other form of economic support even within the extended family system, or their community.

National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT)

The Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) and the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No.202) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) provides for a nationally-defined sets of basic Social Security guarantees which secure protection aimed at preventing or alleviating poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion. The Social Protection Floor Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202) further provides guidance to ILO Member states in building comprehensive Social Security Systems and extending Social Security coverage by prioritising the establishment of national floors of Social Protection accessible to all in need. These inspired the establishment, by an Act of parliament in 2001, of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) old age contributory pension scheme. The activities of the trust are being supervised by the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security. Of the nine Social Security contingencies in the convention, the NASSIT covers the Old Age, Invalidity, Death and Survivor’s benefit. The trust is currently working on extending Social Security coverage to the informal sector workers.