Labour Ministry Releases Major Half-year Achievements

The Minister of Labor, Cllr. Charles Gibson has disclosed that the ministry has generated US$2.5 million of the projected US3.8 million for the 2022 budget year from January to June.

According to Minister Gibson, the money was generated from the issuance of Work Permits in various categories including, “Regular, Gratis, ECOWAS, and Imposition of Fines” for labor violations.

Minister Gibson further disclosed that the Ministry will continue to carry out regular labor inspections in full compliance with the “Decent Work Act” to ensure the lawful collection of government revenues through Work Permit and, by the end of 2022, the money will exceed up to US$5 million.

Speaking during the just-ended Cabinet Retreat held in Ganta City Nimba, the Labour Minister said his ministry is in collaboration with CETIS and contractors to embark upon the digitization process in early September of this year for the Issuance of work permits as another means of collecting revenue that has the propensity to enhance labor inspections and create more jobs.

Gibson also told the gathering that, about fifteen 4x4 pickups, five sedans, two Jeeps and 35 Isuzu motorbikes are already in the country and are being cleared from the Freeport of Monrovia for the project. Also, the annual collection of revenue is expected to increase threefold and increase visibility to insure the protection of workers throughout Liberia.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour has at the same time mitigated labour disputes and avoided strike actions through Social Dialogue in several Concessions and Companies operating across the country.

Some of the concession areas include, APM Terminals, Liberia Agriculture Company, ArcelorMittal Liberia, SETHI Ferro Fabric, BEA Mountain, DEKO Mining, Firestone Liberia, National Transit Authority, Cocopa Rubber Plantation, Liberia Electricity Cooperation, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, as well as Roberts International Airport.

According to Gibson, about 117 labor-related cases were reported from January to June of 2022, and 32 of those cases have been resolved while 85 of them are still undergoing hearing through Social Dialogue.

In a related development, the Bureau of employment at the Ministry of Labour has registered about 7,615 job seekers who are all University graduates and their recommendations for job placements in various concessions companies, business entities, and International Non-Governmental Organizations are ongoing. 

The office of the Minister has also received genuine assurance from the Liberia Chamber of Commerce for the employment of five hundred job seekers, mainly University Graduates. The Ministry said it is also in the process of reviewing and revising the National Employment Policy of Liberia. 

“There has been high demand for skilled workers including welders, carpenters, plumbers, masons, heavy duty operators and many others, and some of them have also been employed with mining and construction companies operating in various parts of the country.

The bureau has at the same time embarked on the Annual Vacation Job Scheme intended to provide more jobs for youth who are still in school to get them some basic things while in class.