By Grace Q. Bryant
Labor Minister, Cooper W. Kruah, has assured that the Ministry, under his leadership, will not compromise the employment of Liberians over foreigners in the Liberian labor market.
As a result, Minister Kruah then declared a ‘Liberians First’ agenda, where qualified Liberians will be afforded preferential opportunities in competing for jobs with foreigners.
This, Minister Kruah emphasized, “We shall ensure that regular, routine, non-technical job replacements and vacancies at major companies and other investment entities in our country will be occupied by qualified Liberians.”
“Or it may only be occupied by foreign workers, if, and only if, there are no competent and qualified Liberians available for said jobs, because this government of President Joseph Boakai’s focus is on employment of Liberians in the private sector,” he noted.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing yesterday, Minister Kruah also warned investors and partners operating in Liberia to desist from disobeying the labor laws of the country or face punishment.
He stressed that underpaying Liberians while overpaying foreign nationals for the same job is prohibited, and as such, it will not be accepted by the Joseph Boakai administration, especially so, serving as the country’s Labor Minister.
According to him, necessary steps will be taken for those who will disregard the laws of the country, disclosing that the government will not disrupt their operations but will use the law in handling bad labor practices in the country.
Minister Kruah further asserted that they are not stopping foreigners from working in the country, but want the legal requirements for foreigners to be met before working in the country, which include residence and working permits.
He maintained that Liberians who traveled into other countries are abiding by such laws, and so foreigners coming into the country should also do the same, adding that foreigners working in Liberia without a work permit is a gross violation of the law and there are consequences attached, which, he said, will be applied.
This, the Labor Minister intoned, “The government is willing to work with foreign investors and partners, which requires the collective effort of everyone, but the country is guided by laws and it should be respected.”
“So, as Labor Minister, I will ensure total adherence to every aspect of the Labor Laws and regulations, including the Decent Work Act of 2015 and the provisions of Regulation No. 17, across the country,” Kruah assured.
The Labor Law and the provisions of Regulation No. 17 states: “Any informal sector employer who employs an alien who is not in possession of a work permit and is not exempted, shall pay a fine of US$500 for the employer and US$200 for the unlawful employee.”
While section 4 (b) of the same regulation also states: “Any formal sector employer, who employs an alien who is not in possession of a work permit and is not exempted, shall pay a fine of US$2,000 for the employer and US$1,000 for the unlawful employee.”
Kruah added that he intends to ensure that all citizens have rights to equal opportunity for work and employment, regardless of sex, creed, religion, ethnic background, place of origin, or political affiliation, and all shall be entitled to equal pay for equal work, implemented fully.
