President George Weah yesterday said government takes seriously the protection of workers’ rights throughout the country and adequate employment for it people who are qualified, competent, and available to work.
He said as a responsible government, it also has the duty to ensure that investors are treated fairly in their relationship with the government and with their employees.
The president however said that the government will not hesitate to take stringent measures against any employer who attempt to evade the payment of government taxes or who try to infringe upon the rights of workers.
These were contained in the president’s work permit system yesterday at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
He pointed that the Labor Ministry has the statutory responsibility to ensure that Liberians are given priority to jobs in the private sector.
“We must also ensure that Liberians are given wages that are comparable to foreigners doing the same job. We must also ensure that Liberians are given wages that are comparable to foreigners doing the same job,” he noted.
The Liberian leader said government policies must be adhered to without compromise adding, “While we seek to increase revenue from greater efficiency in the work permit regime, we will not compromise the rights of our citizens to priority employment opportunities.”
He stated among many things that government also wants to see gender equity in employment, in both the public and private sectors stating that government will continue to seek to build our economy by increasing employment opportunities for Liberians and prioritizing capacity-building in the workplace.
The President described the project commissioning as another milestone aimed at the modernization of government operations for better efficiency and greater productivity, which is the digitization of the work permit system of the Ministry of Labor.
“This will bring Liberia on par with other African and Western countries. Until today, Liberia is the only West African country that is still using a manual work permit system,” he noted.
He believes this innovation will not only improve efficiency but will also increase revenue and provide new employment opportunities.
In addition, the President went further that it will enhance the capacity of the Ministry of Labour to protect and defend the rights of workers in the Republic of Liberia.
“I am told that this is a five-year project between the Government of Liberia, represented by the Ministry of Labour, and CETIS Graphics and Documentation Services Company of the Republic of Slovenia,” he said.
In addition to upgrading from a manual to a digital system, the President stressed that the project also provides for up-front delivery of over US$ 5 million worth of ultra-modern electronic equipment.
Such as the supply of 15 double cabin 4×4 Toyota Pickups; 2 Jeeps; 5 Sedans; and 3 Yamaha Motor Bikes. The contract also covers supplies of fuel, maintenance, and insurance of all equipment and vehicles, as well as salaries and daily allowances for the entire five-year duration of the project.
This equipment will enable the Ministry of Labour to enforce the Work Permit regime of the Government throughout the country.
It will also immensely enhance the capacity of the Ministry to inspect and ensure the safety and other conditions of workers in the workplace, including overall compliance by employers with Liberia’s labor laws, in both the formal and the informal sectors of our economy.
This will enable and empower the Ministry of Labor to work more efficiently and effectively simultaneously in all 15 counties of Liberia, in both the rainy and the dry seasons.
