Koidu Limited Says Fatima Bio Fueled Unlawful Disruptions & Growing Tensions …Over Industrial Actions

By Aruna Momoh Kargbo

Koidu Limited has made strong accusations on the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio as the one who fueled the industrial actions against the mining company for which the company has been left with no option but to suspend productions.
In a letter dated 25th March 2025 written to the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Julius Mattai, Koidu Limited informed the Minister that they are immediately transitioning their operations into a care and maintenance phase due to emergency circumstances culminating from unresolved illegal industrial actions severely impacting their operational viability and employee safety.
The company maintained that the ongoing industrial action is clearly illegal as it contravenes multiple provisions of the Industrial Relations and Trade Union Act, 2024, which mandates formal notice, amongst other condition precedents and qualifying credentials, to be met for a strike action to be in compliance with the said Act.
“Our employees and their union representatives have failed to adhere to these requirements, rendering their actions unlawful,” Koidu Limited stated.
The company stated that several reports from their personnel confirm that employees who wish to resume their duties are facing severe intimidation and threats, effectively preventing their lawful right to work.
The company referenced that the Employment Act, 2023, further underscores the employer’s responsibility to ensure a safe working environment, a requirement that has become unattainable due to unlawful disruptions and the growing tensions.
They also referenced the Industrial Relations and Trade Union Act, 2024, which states that any industrial dispute should be formally reported to the Commissioner of Labour for resolution.
“Despite multiple attempts to resolve this issue through the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security in accordance with the Industrial Relations and Trade Union Act, 2024, the dispute remained unresolved,” they stated.
That there has also been a lack of decisive action from the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security in addressing the clear violations of provisions of the primary legislation regulating employment sector, necessitating the invocation of their rights under the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2022.
That due to the extreme nature of the current disruptions and external interference, they have opted for a transition to care and maintenance as a more prudent course of action.
They cited that in line with the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Development Act No.16, 2022, on the suspension of production of License holders, the circumstances enumerated herein forms the emergency circumstances on which the notice is issued.
“Additional to the aforementioned, the situation is exacerbated by external political interference, notably by Her Excellency the First Lady Dr Fatima Maada Bio, advising workers against returning to work,” the letter stated.