Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, and colloquially Salone, is a West African republic on the southwest coast. It is bounded to the southeast by Liberia, while the northern part of the country is surrounded by Guinea. Sierra Leone has a tropical climate, a diversified ecosystem ranging from savanna to rainforests, an area of 71,740 km2 (27,699 sq mi), and a population of 7,092,113 people according to the 2015 census. Freetown is the capital and biggest city. The nation is organized into five administrative regions, each of which has 16 districts. Sierra Leone is a constitutional republic with a unicameral legislature and a directly elected president who serves a five-year term with a two-term limit. Julius Maada Bio is the current president. Sierra Leone is a secular country with a constitution that guarantees the separation of state and religion as well as religious freedom (which includes freedom of thoughts and religion). Muslims constitute almost three-quarters of the population, with a strong Christian minority. Religious tolerance is highly strong in the West African country, and it is widely accepted as a standard and part of Sierra Leone's cultural character.
Although the country and its borders have been inhabited for millennia, Sierra Leone, as the country and its borders are known today, was founded by the British Crown in two phases: first, the coastal Sierra Leone Colony in 1808 (for returning Africans following the abolition of slavery); and second, the inland Protectorate in 1896. (as the Crown needed to establish more dominion inland following the outcome of the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885). As a result, the nation was renamed the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate, or simply British Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone obtained independence from the United Kingdom on April 27, 1961, and on the same day became a Commonwealth dominion; the country's name was changed to the Dominion of Sierra Leone. Sir Milton Margai was the first Prime Minister of Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone had an upsurge in political activity, changes, turbulence, humanitarian and socioeconomic problems in the decades after independence. On May 27, 1961, the republic held its first general elections as an independent nation. Margai was re-elected Prime Minister after his Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) gained a majority of legislative seats. A new constitution was enacted in 1971, clearing the way for Sierra Leone to become a republic and Siaka Stevens, head of the All People's Congress (APC), to become the country's first executive president. Stevens held this office for 14 years (until 1985) in a one-party government made possible by the contentious 1978 Constitution. However, Stevens' hand-picked successor, Joseph Saidu Momoh, vowed to restore the nation to a multi-party system; in 1991, a new constitution was established that gave the basis for a multi-party democracy. The same year, a horrific civil war broke out, lasting 11 years and destroying practically everything that distinguished Sierra Leone as a country. President Momoh was deposed in a coup headed by Sierra Leone Army commander Valentine Strasser barely a year after the conflict began (in 1992). Strasser was eventually "outed" by his army colleague and second-in-command Julius Maada Bio for failing to commit to a speedy transition to a civilian administration. Bio would then use a general election to revert the nation to a democratic republic in 1996.
Despite the country's harsh civil conflict, the idea of a return to multi-party democracy sparked new hopes and enormous expectations among the majority of Sierra Leoneans in early 1996, as the national debate "Peace before Elections versus Elections before Peace" became a hot subject. The discussion was eventually won by "Elections before Peace." Ahmad Tejan Kabbah won the 1996 presidential election, becoming Sierra Leone's first multi-party democratically elected president. Since then, elections have ensured a seamless transfer to the office. Kabbah fled to Guinea after a short coup conducted by Sierra Leone Army Major Johnny Paul Koroma in 1997. He was reinstated after nine months thanks to ECOMOG's military involvement. Kabbah's presidency marked the beginning of a new Sierra Leone, with the civil war ending in 2002, a focus on fostering national unity and reconciliation, trust in government, peace and stability, improved relations with many countries, and the refounding of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces with special assistance and training led by the Government of the United Kingdom.
Sierra Leone is home to around 18 ethnic groups, the two biggest and most powerful of which are the Temne and Mende peoples. Creole people, descendants of liberated African American and West Indian slaves, make up around 2% of the country's population. In schools and government administration, English is the official language. Krio is the most frequently spoken language in Sierra Leone, with 97 percent of the people speaking it. Sierra Leone is endowed with natural resources, including diamonds, gold, bauxite, and aluminum. The country is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Mano River Union, the Commonwealth of Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, the African Development Bank, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Fourah Bay College is the first Western-style university in Sub-Saharan Africa (established in 1827).
Employees are entitled to 19 days of paid annual leave, which increases to 22 days after five years and 28 days after ten years of service.
New Year’s Day
International Women’s Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Independence Day
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Adha
Mawlid
Christmas
Boxing Day
Sick leave is usually managed by a collective bargaining agreement or an employment contract. Employees typically get at least five paid sick days each year.
Employees who give birth to a child are entitled to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. Unless a collective bargaining agreement specifies otherwise, the employer pays for the leave.
There is no paternity leave in Sierra Leone.
In Sierra Leone, an employment contract can be canceled by either the employer or the employee at the conclusion of the contract time (if the contract is for a specified term). Contracts for fixed-term employment expire at the end of the period.
Unless an individual or collective agreement mandates notice, an employer and employee may cancel an employment contract without providing notice during the probation period. Employees may be terminated for cause, and after receiving two written warnings, they may be terminated without pay.
According to Sierra Leonean labor laws, the notice period can range from one week to one month.
Probation periods of up to six months are permitted in Sierra Leone.
Severance is generally determined by individual and collective bargaining agreements.
Sierra Leone's work week is typically 40 hours long.
Women and employees under the age of 18 are not permitted to work at night. Overtime is compensated at a rate of 50% more; work on rest days is compensated at 100% more.
The government-mandated minimum wage in Sierra Leone is 500,000 Sierra Leonean leones per month.
Pregnant women, children under the age of five, and nursing moms are all eligible for free health care. The government is trying to provide access to free health care for all people.
Mandatory benefits postulated by law include a probationary period, pay on annual leaves, public holidays, sick leaves, maternity leave, paternity leave, and overtime pay. Statutory benefits also include social security benefits.
There is currently no information regarding taxation in Sierra Leone.
There is currently no information regarding taxation in Sierra Leone.
There is currently no information regarding taxation in Sierra Leone.
To travel to Sierra Leone, visitors must apply for, submit, and be approved for a Sierra Leone visa in accordance with the Sierra Leone visa policy. The Sierra Leone visa policy stipulates that you must have a Sierra Leone visa in order to enter, reside in, or exit the country.
When applying for a Sierra Leone visa, specific information must be supplied in order for the visa to be filed, processed, and accepted. A visa application will be considered complete and will be reviewed and approved by officials if the following information is provided: the country from which the passport was applied for and issued, the length of time the traveler intends to stay in Sierra Leone, and the reason for the traveler's visit.
The Sierra Leone government introduced the Sierra Leone visa, which is available to non-visa-exempt citizens from all around the globe. The implementation of this visa has enabled tourists to explore Sierra Leone for both tourism and commercial reasons, and a traveler in possession of a Sierra Leone visa is authorized to remain in Sierra Leone for up to 90 days per entry.
The Sierra Leone visa is part of the Schengen Agreement, which permits tourists to visit all of the nations in the Schengen region with only one visa. Holders of the Schengen visa are permitted to travel to 27 countries, including Sierra Leone. Travelers can easily apply for a visa online and receive it quickly. Once issued, the Sierra Leone visa made required by the Sierra Leone visa policy must be shown to immigration officers when a passenger arrives at the port of entry into Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone has reached agreements with over 150 countries to grant visa exemptions to these countries. Any traveler possessing a passport from one of the exempt nations is allowed to travel without the need to apply for a visa and have it granted before departure. Sierra Leone, along with 25 other European nations, signed the Schengen Agreement for visa-free travel, which shares the common Schengen Area visa policy, which is similar to Sierra Leone's Visa policy.
There is presently just one visa available as part of Sierra Leone's visa policy for tourist reasons. Visitors who wish to visit Sierra Leone but do not have a passport that qualifies for visa exemption under the Sierra Leone Visa Policy must obtain permission from the Sierra Leone government before arriving at any port of entry and attempting to cross the border into the country.
Employment contracts in Sierra Leone may be either verbal or written. Verbal contracts are limited to six months in length, and the employee must grasp the provisions of the contract in their native language.
Employment contracts may be for a set period of time or for an unlimited period of time. A fixed-term contract cannot be longer than one year. A written employment contract should contain the parties' names, the location of work, a job description, the start date of employment, the term of the contract, compensation, and working hours. The employee must be able to read and comprehend the provisions of a signed, fixed-term contract. Alternatively, the provisions of the contract might be read to the employee and witnessed by a magistrate.
If the contract does not mention a length or end date, it is believed to be an indefinite employment contract.
Typically, the probation time is defined by a collective or employment agreement.
There is no set length for assignments. This is usually indicated in the employment contract for fixed-term employments.
Sierra Leonean Leone
When determining how to establish a Sierra Leone subsidiary, you must first examine your company's objectives. We recommend that you start by deciding on a physical location for your workplace. Different regions or localities in Sierra Leone may operate under different rules and regulations, which may make incorporation simpler or more difficult in some places. Always do your homework before opting to incorporate in a certain place.
You should also talk about your operational objectives in the nation. Sierra Leone provides a variety of organizations, each with its own set of rules and regulations, such as a limited liability company (LLC), a public limited liability company (PLC), a branch, and a representative office. Many companies choose to incorporate as a limited liability corporation (LLC), but you should discover the option that works best for your firm.
The following actions are required to establish a Sierra Leone subsidiary as an LLC:
1. Drafting a statement and articles of incorporation
2. Choosing a Business Name
3. Filing of statutory declarations
4. Other required documentation, such as member and director IDs, declarations, and letters of approval, must be submitted.
Sierra Leone's subsidiary laws differ depending on whatever entity you pick. LLCs must have at least one shareholder and one director, who may be of any nationality and can be people or business entities. They are not need to reside in Sierra Leone. In addition, the government has reduced its minimum share capital requirement, so you do not need to put aside this cash to incorporate.
The Companies Act 2009 and later revisions describe additional Sierra Leone subsidiary legislation that must be followed in order to remain compliant. For instance, your memorandum of association must be in the proper format and confirmed by each subscriber. The articles of incorporation should next specify how your business will be administered, regulated, and owned. It must include your company's name, registered office address, the type of your business, and the structure of your subsidiary.
