Sierra Leone Labour Congress Position on Climate Change and Implications for the Welfare of the Working Population

This position paper, developed for the Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC), examined the far-reaching implications of climate change for workers’ livelihoods across Sierra Leone. Five major climate-related hazards were identified: thunderstorms, shifting rainfall patterns, landslides, floods, and droughts — each with significant impacts on agriculture, health, fisheries, and the broader economy.

The paper noted that with agriculture contributing approximately 45% to GDP, climate vulnerability poses a direct threat to national revenue and poverty levels. The SLLC committed to engaging all stakeholders on climate change, stimulating debates on its effects on the labour market, and advocating for its inclusion in national development policy.

Recommendations to government included strengthening environmental protection coordination, ensuring multi-ministry involvement in climate governance, and conducting stakeholder consultations before international climate meetings.