The Labor Minister has named trafficking-in-persons as one of the most important focal points of its activities.
Although there are major financial and logistical challenges, the Ministry has been able to report some successes.
Labor Minister Cooper Kruah disclosed that the Ministry as Chair of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, in collaboration with other members, including the Ministry of Justice, Police, Immigration and others, is seriously fighting to combat this menace and has institutionalized the approaches of prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership.
In the area of Prevention, Minister is quoted by the release as further stressing: “we have and continue to carry our various sensitization and cross country awareness. In the area of Protection, we currently have three safe homes with victims which we cater to daily, with provision of medical treatment, food, security, electricity logistics, etc., with the meager resources we have”,
The Labor boss said the Ministry coordinates fight against child labor and the existence of the worst forms of child labor in Liberia.
“Since our incumbency, the Ministry has successfully worked with our partners and have seen the passing of the Child Labor Act, by the House of Representatives, which seeks to abolish and criminalize the practices of all forms of child labor in Liberia. This act is now before the Liberian Senate for concurrence,” the Labor Minister further quoted as informing the U.S. Diplomat in the release.
Minister Kruah informed Amb. Toner that since incumbency, the Ministry has striven to do nothing shy of government’s mission and objectives, which is principally helping to create decent work, equal remuneration, ensuring equal rights for employers and employees, enforcing best practice labor standards, promoting economic development and growth and at the same time working daily to alleviate obstacles to efficient business practices and administering the Liberian Tripartite Regime effectively.
Minister Kruah clarified that there is no law on the book in the country that prohibits workers, including contractors, to organize themselves into trade unions, once all requirements are fulfilled.
Meanwhile, the Government of the United States of America, through its Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Mark Toner, has graded the functions of the Labor Ministry as “strategic to the protection and human rights promotion in Liberia’s democracy.
Amb. Toner also hailed the Ministry for steps taken in the fight against trafficking in person and progress in addressing immediate challenges being faced by the Ministry to get Liberia back in good position and on the right path in the international stage of the tripartite constituents.
Ambassador Toner said his visit is part of efforts to acquaint himself with crucial issues in the Liberian labor, particularly in relations to human rights which he described as the pillar of any democracy, especially for nation where investment is growing and becoming stronger.
Ambassador Toner said this must be done in coordination with strong labor law which must be promulgated by the Labor Ministry, something which he acknowledged, Minister Kruah Administration is vigorously pursuing.
According to a Labor Ministry release, Amb. Toner made these assertions on Thursday, August 29, 2024, when he paid a courtesy call on Minister Kruah at his Labor Ministry office at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
The release quotes the U.S. Envoy as assuring stronger collaboration between his office and the Liberian Labor Ministry in addressing some critical labor issues, including the rights of contractual workers across the country to form their own work place trade union.
