The International Labour Organization (ILO), Specialist for Workers Activities (ACTRAV) at the Regional Office for English Speaking West African Countries, in Abuja, Nigeria, Madam Inviolata Chinyangarara has expressed satisfaction over the structure of Liberia’s Ministry of Labour.
She said that the structure of the Ministry outlined the functions of the Minister, Deputies and Directors responsible for International Labour Standards, Trade Union, other programs and activities which are key to promoting labour issues in the country.
Madam Chinyangarara noted that this shows that there is a good and an enabling environment for the promotion of ILO Decent Work Agenda in Liberia.
Madam Chinyangarara was speaking on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 during a meeting with the leadership of the Liberia Labour Congress (LLC) and affiliate Trade Unions in Liberia. The meeting was held in the conference room of the Ministry of labor in Monrovia.
She said that her role as ILO Specialist on Workers Activities in the four English Speaking West African Countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia) is to support workers in the areas of training and policy advisory to enable them promote ILO Decent Work Agenda to the benefit of their members.
Madam Chinyangarara who took over this portfolio on August 1, 2021 after serving as Training Director for Africa at the International Training Center (ITC) in Turin, Italy, said that this is her first mission outside of Abuja, Nigeria to conduct a face to face meeting with workers’ organization and their affiliates.
She informed the Unions leaders that the biggest ILO delegation is in the country from the Country Office in Abuja and is expected to meet several stakeholders in the labor sector of Liberia. She maintained that during her stay in the country, she will be meeting with other relevant partners that are connected to the work of Trade Unions activities in Liberia.
Updating the LLC and affiliates on earlier meetings held with the Minister of Labour and team of the Ministry, the ILO Workers’ Specialist said “The Minister and Deputies informed us about ongoing development in the labor sector of Liberia with regards to the Decent Work Act of 2015, the ratification of ILO Conventions and other labor issues. For us these are good progress for the sector.”
She added that the meeting with the LCC is divided into three parts. First was a meeting held on Monday, October 18, 2021 with Executives of the LCC; second is a two hour session with the leadership of the LLC and their affiliates as means of seeing a broader picture of who are part of the National Organization (LLC). She said that these meetings are intended to deepen their understanding of what the issues are, the statistics members, etc.
She furthered announced that she will be meeting with LLC Leadership on Friday of this week to summarize all of the issues gathered during her visit, nothing that at this time round, the meeting will be held at the headquarters of the LLC and not at the Ministry of Labour.
Earlier, the Acting President General of the Liberia Labour Congress (LLC), Madam Theresa Vesikida welcomed the ILO Specialist to Liberia and expressed the LLC gratitude to the ILO for many support it continues to provide for worker s’ activities in Liberia.