Hi, I saw a job advertised (working for a deep mine company) doing electrical work, 12 weeks on 3 weeks off.

I wondered if anyone had any experience of working out there. My obvious concerns are health issues, crime and if promised monies were actually paid both monthly and on completion. All local airlines are banned from EU due to safety too.

Any info would be appreciated.

Having working up and down that coast, the answer to your question would depend on who you were working for, if direct for a MNC ie BHP Billiton, Anglo-American etc you should be ok, but its going to be rough, so you would need to be very well compensated...on a 12/3

If it was me I would be asking the sorts of questions you are asking direct to the company concerned, if its not one of the MNC's, then be very wary

^problem with asking the company though is they're not likely to tell him that they don't pay salary on time and screw you on bonuses and you're likely to be shot if they're deperate to get people there.

Check the Expats International or Expat Network or Nexus websites to see if there's any warnings posted there.

You should be posting the name of the company, not the location of the job.

If it's a sizable US or EU company, I wouldn't worry about getting paid.  But I guess you are concerned about some no-name little company?

A lot of civil unrest there over the last ten years, not yet fully resolved. Freetown used to be a great capital, now a shambles. I had a conversation last year with a guy doing relief work there and he said one of the biggest problems he faced was finding decent, safe housing. Anything in a protected compound is hugely expensive.

A lot of the thugs hanging around Sukhumvit these days are former militia from Sierra Leone and they are very nasty guys. For some reason, a lot of them had settled in Laos but last year, the Laotians had had enough (Dealing drugs in front of the Thai Embassy for instance.)and closed the door.

Think very carefully, Sierra Leone is typical of most west african countries where chaos,poverty,corruption and violence are the norm.

Only consider working there if you are very well compensated by an expat employer and have assurances about working/living conditions, security, health care, insurances etc. After that look the other issues, even taking malaria medication long term has long term health implications!!