Freetown, Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has directly implicated Malador Travel Agency in the alleged illegal recruitment of 28 Sierra Leonean nationals for work in Qatar.
According to an official public notice issued by the Ministry, Malador Travel Agency, operating in Sierra Leone in collaboration with certain Sierra Leonean residents in Qatar, recruited the 28 individuals under the false pretext of securing legitimate employment opportunities in the Gulf nation.
The Ministry, acting on information from the Sierra Leone Embassy in Qatar, has summoned the agency and given it five working days to produce duly authenticated employment contracts for each of the affected workers. Failure to comply will trigger immediate repatriation of the 28 Sierra Leoneans and the suspension or revocation of Malador Travel Agency’s operating licence.
The government described the agency’s actions as a serious violation of ethical recruitment standards that exposes vulnerable citizens to significant risks to their safety, legal status, and financial security.
“The Ministry views this matter with utmost seriousness,” the notice states, emphasizing that such practices constitute a direct breach of established labour recruitment norms.
The notice further reveals that the Ministry and the Sierra Leone Embassy in Qatar are working closely to monitor the situation and ensure the protection and welfare of the affected migrants.
In a broader warning, the Ministry highlighted growing concerns over irregular recruitment practices targeting Sierra Leoneans.
It noted that certain agencies and individuals including those involved in similar schemes are directing citizens toward employment in Russia and other conflict zones, particularly in the defence sector. The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) strongly disapproves of such unauthorized migration programs, which it says endanger citizens’ lives.
The public notice serves as a stern warning to all recruitment agencies, including Malador Travel Agency, to immediately cease unlawful practices or face legal consequences.
This case has brought renewed attention to the need for stricter oversight of private recruitment agencies in Sierra Leone. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to safe, orderly, and dignified labour migration, urging citizens to verify all overseas job offers through official government and diplomatic channels.
