MONROVIA: Cataloging Labor Minister, Cooper Kruah’s achievements, the National Civil Society Union of Liberia (NCSUL), has revealed that in a short period of time, the Labor Minister has supervised a vigorous revenue collection and control.
According to NCSUL, this move led to the collection of US$3,865,378.88(Three Million, Eight Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand and Seventy cent).
NCSUL indicated in a statement that said amount, based on its fact-check, was generated from the Alien Work Permit Registration.
The Pro-democracy Group called on other revenue generating entities to follow the good example of the Ministry of Labor.
The Pro-democracy Group revealed that this is the first of its kind for the Ministry to generate such as impressive amount in the shortest period of time for Government.
The Group added that based on its fact-check, Cllr. Kruah has instituted the full administration of the Labor Laws and Regulations and an unequivocal application of the Decent Work Act of 2015, as well as the enforcement of the minimum wage law.
The National Civil Society Union of Liberia also highlighted that the Labor Minister has reactivated and made the Tripartite Division of the Ministry very active, working with Government, employers and workers in Liberia.
With respect to partners collaboration, the Group said, Cllr. Kruah, since taking over the authority of the Country’s Labor sector, has had total collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and other International Organizations, ensuring soon to be available technical and experts support and joint venture cooperation.
“ Minister Kruah is also ensuring non-technical jobs for Liberians’ are no longer performed by foreigners in the private sector, thus providing jobs for Liberians,” it added.
The MOL has also begun working with International Labor Organization (ILO) to ensure synchronization of the public and private sector laws under one possible legal framework,” according to the the National Civil Society Union of Liberia.
At the same time, the Pro-democracy Group pointed out that the Labor Minister’s efforts have also led to the reorganization of the Inspectorate Division, with full uniforms, organization and orderly assignments.
The Group highlighted that Minister Kruah as a leader who believes in transparency and accountability has expanded the MOL Finance Department with the creation of the position of a Finance Director to encompass full financial management and capturing and reporting of both expenditure and revenue statistics with forecasting and control responsibilities.
On the issue of workers welfare, The National Civil Society Union of Liberia mentioned that the Labor Minister is fully ensuring industrial safety, health and workman’ compensation at all concessionaries; and that he is working with the Civil Service Agency to clean the MOL payroll so as to modernize employment situation.
“Ridding the Ministry of Labor of unscrupulous employees and making sure unprofessionalism finds no place at the Ministry; ensuring the continuous existence of full working relations between Employers and workers at all times at plantations and concession entities,” the group said are among the gains made thus far.
The Minister has also ensured that all workers illegally dismissed by concession companies are reinstated.
The Pro-democracy Group added that Minister Kruah is ensuring transparency and accountability at all levels of the Ministry’s functions and responsibilities and Engendering interagency collaboration and coordination.
It named Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and others as part of the interagency collaboration and coordination in the performance of the Ministry’s duties; and ensuring quality staff placements at all levels of the Ministry of Labor among other.
“Based on the aforementioned, the National Civil Society Union of Liberia has captured Minister Cooper Kruah as one of the Ministers in President Joseph N. Boakai’s Government who have significantly performed beyond expectations within the administration’s 100 days.
The group, therefore, commended the Labor Minister and co-workers for these achievements and believe that within a year, more gains will be made by the ministry based on his innovative working relationship.
As watch dogs of the Liberian Society, the National Civil society Union of Liberia (NACSUL) will continue to monitor the workings of the Ministry of Labor and other entities of the Liberian Government to track performance.
