International Workers’ Day..Dr. Ibrahim Bangura Calls for a New Social Contract
In a powerful statement marking International Workers’ Day, Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, a flagbearer aspirant of the All People’s Congress (APC), has paid tribute to Sierra Leone’s workforce and issued a bold call for a “new social contract” that prioritizes workers’ rights, dignity, and economic well-being.
Addressing the nation on May Day, Dr. Bangura extended his salute to workers across all sectors and regions of the country—from the farmlands of Kailahun and Kambia to the mining communities of Kono and Port Loko, and the classrooms and market stalls of Freetown, Bo, and Makeni.
“You are the lifeblood of our nation’s progress,” he declared. “Yet, let us speak frankly: too many of our workers remain underpaid, unprotected, and undervalued.”
Dr. Bangura highlighted the persistent challenges facing the country’s workforce, including high unemployment among young people, poor working conditions, and the daily struggles of families trying to make ends meet.
As a leader aspiring to govern Sierra Leone, he pledged to champion policies that place workers at the center of national development. He outlined a five-point vision for a new social contract that includes:
Decent jobs and fair wages, with equal pay for equal work;
Investment in education and vocational training, including digital skills for the modern economy;
Strengthened labour unions and full protection of workers’ rights;
Access to health insurance, pension security, and safe working conditions;
An economy focused on equity and human welfare, rather than exploitation.
“My vision is simple,” Dr. Bangura said. “A Sierra Leone where hard work is honoured, not punished. A nation where opportunity is not a privilege for a few, but a shared promise for all.”
He also offered a personal message of solidarity to workers of all professions—housekeepers, nurses, teachers, miners, doctors, traders, drivers, administrators, and the youth—affirming his commitment to amplify their voices and place their hopes at the heart of national transformation.
“Together, let us rise—to heal, unite, and build Sierra Leone,” he concluded.