Labor Minister Cooper W. Kruah has, with immediate effect, ordered the full employment of 59 casual workers at two major investment companies, the Supreme Liberia, Inc. and the Menzeh Zinc Factory on Bushrod Island.
‘Casual workers’ are workers who are hired on a daily contractual basis within an entity.
Supreme Liberia is a mattress manufacturing company, while Menzeh Zinc produces aluminum and zinc products, respectively.
According to a release issued yesterday, February 20, 2025, Minister Kruah further directed that all casual daily hired workers are to receive a monthly payment of not less than US$150, while contracted professionals are to be immediately transitioned to full-time employment status with a minimum wage of US$175 respectively.
Minister Kruah, at the same time, directed the Management of the Menzeh Zinc Factory to immediately replace all Pakistani Nationals currently operating the company’s forklifts with Liberian employees, equally qualified with commensurate benefits.
“Never again will we allow jobs solely allotted for Liberians to be performed by foreigners under this Rescue Mission Government of Joseph Boakai because our citizens need and deserve to work and improve their economic standards,” Kruah assured.
The Labor Minister gave the directive when he conducted an on-the-spot inspection tour at the two investment conglomerates as part of his ongoing acquaintances with workers, management and workplace conditions across the country.
Minister Kruah, however, cautioned workers at the two companies, including others at major investment conglomerates, to refrain from violence as the means to resolve grievances, urging them to instead engage in social dialogue as the best way to resolve grievances.
He also called on the management of the two entities to consider providing advance monthly payment on requests of their workers, providing needed factory protective gadgets and creating smooth personal working relationships.
Kruah then promised to ensure regular follow-up visits by Labour Inspectors to ensure that these directives are enforced.
In a separate response of appreciation to their engagements with the Minister, the Chairperson of Supreme Liberia, Inc., Jaspal Singh and the General Manager of Menzeh Zinc Factory, Mohamed Asif, both lauded Minister Kruah for the tour and assured him of their full compliance with all standing labour regulations, including the Minister’s directive.
For their part, workers of the two companies praised Minister Kruah for the visit, the first by any senior government official since the commencement of operations over two years ago.
