Minister of Labour, Social Security and Industrial Relations has disclosed that his ministry in three months collected Le5.7billion (five billion, seven hundred million Leones) from companies operating in Sierra Leone as fees levied for work permits for foreign workers.

Dr. Mathew Teambo was speaking at the weekly government press briefing at Ministry of Information and Communications, Youyi building, last Thursday.

He revealed that within a short period in his tenure as minister, he has held meetings with over 50 companies in the country, and that he was on a restructuring mission in the ministry as well as creating bilateral relationship with various companies.

Dr. Teambo said that foreign nationals working in Sierra Leone are required to pay a fee of Le5 million (five million Leones) to register, and to renew their work permits, while those from ECOWAS - Economic Community of West African States - countries are required to pay Le4 million (four million Leones).

The minister said a number of companies have registered with the Labour Ministry, adding that the government of Sierra Leone was concerned about their fiscal obligations and compliance. He therefore encouraged defaulting companies to register their foreign workers and pay levies in respect of their work permits.

He announced that the ministry will form a committee to scrutinize foreign nationals applying for work permits, adding that the problem of giving out the permit to foreign workers was akin to 'buying pepper in the market'.