80 Liberian Contractors To Be Employed At 2 Industrial Groups

By Inquirer Newspaper Last updated Feb 16, 2025

By Bill W. Cooper
Labour Minister Cooper Kruah has mandated two major investment conglomerates, General Managers Hussein Atwi and Abhai Srivastava, to transition their over 80 contractors to permanent employment status with immediate effect.
The move, according to Minister Kruah is part of the government of President Joseph Boakai’s efforts to provide employment for Liberians, coupled with the improvement of the well-being of all Liberian employees.
The two companies are the Liberia Paper Product and Cartoon Factory and the Silver Automobiles Company, Ltd, all based around the Free Zone Industrial Park on Bushrod Island.
During his inspection tour of the companies recently, Minister Kruah further expressed his dissatisfaction over the way and manner in which Liberian workers at the companies are being treated on a perpetual renewal contractual basis, thus denying them full benefits associated with work, in violation of The Decent Work Act of Liberia.
The Minister, at the same time, called on the two companies to provide safety gadgets, including protective gloves and nose masks, among others, to their workers, ensuring the safety and well-being of all employees.
He also urged the two industrial conglomerates to provide lunch and overtime benefits to the workers, including retroactive holidays, thus lauding the two leading companies for their investment initiatives.
Minister Kruah, however, disclosed that the Government looks up to their continuous support in providing part-time vacation jobs under the Ministry’s ‘Annual Vacation Job Program’, which was officially launched last year.
In response, Messrs Srivastava and Atwi commended Minister Kruah for the tour and committed to fully implementing the mandate, acknowledging strides being made by President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung.
Meanwhile, Minister Kruah and his team are expected to continue the industrial inspection tour shortly, extending to the Southeast and other regions of the country.