Labor Minister, Cooper W. Kruah, has informed members of the Liberia Labor Congress (LLC) that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has the workers of Liberia at heart and is concerned about their welfare and the progress they have made over the years.
Minister Kruah said the President has mandated his Ministry to work with the divided parties of the Liberia Labor Congress, currently in dispute over leadership, to amicably resolve their differences in the best interest of their membership across the country.
The Liberian Labor Minister added that, in adherence to the President’s mandate and his constitutional responsibilities as head of the Tripartite Constituents, substantial progress is being made in the mediation exercise underway, involving the two divided factions of the Liberia Labor Congress.
He then assured that within at least the 90-day period, the contentious issues at the core of the dispute within the organization will be resolved with a commitment to sustaining genuine peace and stability.
Minister Kruah, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, delivered the International Labor Day address on behalf of President Boakai at the official program organized by the LLC, held at the J. B. McGill Center in Gardnersville.
Speaking further, he emphasized that the Ministry of Labor is looking to working collectively with all of the factions and different groupings in ensuring that there is only one Labor Congress in Liberia, noting, “It is not in your best interest to see that there are factions within the congress because a house divided against itself cannot stand.”
The Labor boss used the occasion to call on workers of Liberia to remember the importance of the celebration of ‘May Day’, and urged trade unions across the country to go beyond the mere fun fare by remaining champions of the workers in helping national government to create a stable industrial Labor sector for economic growth and job creation.
Minister Kruah reemphasized his commitment recently made before the Liberian Senate during his confirmation hearing, at which he declared his administration’s determination to place the interest of Liberian workers foremost on his agenda.
He then revealed ongoing tour of various investment establishments to probe workers’ concentration, including conditions of work, protective gadgets, rights of workers to unionize, as well as ensuring preference for Liberians in job placement with commensurate compensations, in line with the Decent Work Act.
Minister Kruah further frowned on the apparent deplorable plights of contractual workers at some major investment companies, kept on contract far above the official probation period without employment, and provided benefits far below what the Labor Law calls for, and promised to take appropriate remedial legal actions to curtail such inhumane mal-labor practices.
Delivering a special Labor Day message on behalf of the workers of Liberia, LLC Secretary General, Marcus Blamah, said many employers and employment institutions have signed Collective Bargains Agreement (CBA) with the workers’ unions, but have failed to live-up to those CBAs.
The LLC Official indicated that there are other investment companies who have refused to allow their workers to freely join trade unions of their choice, thus using contract workers in their employ in violation of the Labor Law.
However, he said there are few employers who have allowed contract workers to join trade unions in their workplace.
“Minister Cooper W. Kruah, this is a challenge to you and the Ministry of Labor, and the Liberia Labor Congress will be willing to join you in this fight. We will also bring to your attention that the rights of Liberian workers are being violated by unfriendly trade union employers, but we are still observing and we will expose them very soon,” he concluded.
The celebration was held under the theme: “Social Justice and Decent Work for All, Expressing the Impact of Climate Change on Occupational Safety and Health At the Workplace”, and attended by stakeholders in the Labor Sector of Liberia, including the Ministry of Labor, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, the Liberia Business Association, Representatives of National and Local Trade Unions, amongst others.
