Kono, Sierra Leone – The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Bio, has joined workers of the Koidu Limited Mining Company in Kono Town in a peaceful protest, calling for improved working conditions and better services for employees.
In a statement posted on social media, Mrs. Bio expressed solidarity with the workers, describing herself as a “proud daughter of the soil.”
“Today, as a proud daughter of the soil, I joined my brothers and sisters working at the Koidu Limited Mining Company in Kono Town to peacefully protest. Our collective action aimed to urge Koidu Limited to enhance working conditions and provide better services for all employees,” she wrote.
The protesters outlined several key demands, including union recognition, living allowances, a 30% salary increment, overtime compensation, incentives, access to safe drinking water, and freedom of financial choice.
“This protest is a call to action for the company to improve the working conditions and provide better services. We believe that these demands are reasonable and essential for maintaining the well-being and dignity of workers,” the First Lady added.
Mrs. Bio urged Koidu Limited to engage with the workers in good faith to find solutions that would benefit both the company and its employees.
“We hope that the company will take these demands seriously and engage with us in good faith to find solutions that benefit both the company and its employees. We will continue to fight, and we are confident that our collective action will bring about positive change,” she concluded.
The protest marks a significant development in the ongoing calls for better working conditions at one of Sierra Leone’s major mining companies. There has been no official response from Koidu Limited at the time of reporting.
