Liberia Commemorates ILO 100th Anniversary

By Bill W. Cooper
The government through the Ministry of Labor (MOL) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) over the weekend celebrated the ILO 100th anniversary in oldest Congo Town under the theme “Reflecting on the Future of Work”.
The celebration which took place on January 10, 2020 at the Ministerial Complex brought together every tripartite member within the labor sector, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC) direct representative, the Liberia Labor Congress (LLC) and the Minister of Labor.
Speaking at the opening of the Centennial, the MOL Minister, Moses Y. Kollie stressed that as the country joins in the celebration of the ILO 100th centennial, it is important that the Labor sector reflects on their achievements, as well as how they came about and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of them as a member state of the ILO and as a country as a whole.
Minister Kollie stated that as the country strives to promote decent works and improve the working conditions and lives of all workers throughout the country and for the MOL mandate to remain focused.
The MOL Minister further applauded the ILO for the reprinting of 5,000 copies of the Decent Work Act (DWA) of the country which he said will easily be taken along with anyone, anywhere for easy reading, adding “these newly printed copies of the DWA will be distributed soon at every concession sites and to also be followed by some awareness and education in the DWA of Liberia.”
Speaking on the topic “Employment Creation”, the acting president of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC), Charles E. Collins, Sr. said that employment creation is vital for both the economy and political stability of a country, of which Liberia is of no exception.
Mr. Collins emphasized that employment policies in the country must continue to focus on the creation of short and medium-term jobs for youths, noting “government needs to design various strategies to crest self-employed and give tax incentives to large investors to encourage investment in sectors with high employment elasticity.”
The LCC acting president added that the government must seek loans from international finance institutions abroad in order to help LPMC purchase from the local farmers, while at the same time lauded the MOL and the ILO for inviting the LCC to the ILO 100th anniversary.
Earlier, Sirleaf Massaley from the ILO said that the ILO was founded in 1919 due to the first war, so many labor unrest, injustice, hardship and privation to a large number of people as to produce unrest, though there was no standard or system from the onset.
Mr. Massaley then lauded the government of Liberia through the MOL for the support through so many means for making the ILO anniversary a success, as well as other tripartite members within the labor sector for joining the ILO in commemorating their 100th centennial.