MONROVIA: Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey, has called on the Government of Liberia for enforcement of the “Liberalization Policy” by protecting Liberian businesses from the “monopoly of foreign cartels.”
Liberalization policy focuses on the reduction of government laws and restrictions in place to encourage greater participation by private entities.
She said because Liberians import more than 80 percent of its food – including the staple food, rice – preference for government contracts should be given to Liberian agribusinesses.
This will promote food security in keeping with the “Liberians Feed Yourself program.”
According to her, “protectionist policies should never give us a license to lower our standards or accept mediocrity stating that, Liberians must constantly invent new ways to expand market outcomes and play an active role in our economy.”
She urged Liberian entrepreneurs “to see the heaps of trash dotted across the country as a business opportunity” and to also see the generation of renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal and biofuel) as an impetus for confronting the climate crisis.
“See the supply of clean potable water as a business opportunity and also see advancements in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) as an opportunity to produce jobs for the future,” she noted.
According to her, these pursuits will create sustainable employment, reduce intergenerational poverty and spur economic growth. “our goal must be inclusive growth, not growth by any means,” she stressed.
Dr. Pailey indicated that, if inclusive growth is our mission, then, we must cancel contracts with poorly performing multinationals and renegotiate concession agreements that violate Liberian laws (including our labor laws) and international human rights standards (including environmental governance).
At the same time, the Orator Pailey called on the Legislature to revise the Decent Work Bill.
The Decent Work Bill is intended to protect workers and their organizations against anti-union discrimination at the time of recruitment and during employment.
It gives effect to human rights and ILO obligations and seeks to address discrimination against women in working conditions.
The Orator said “unregulated accumulation of vast wealth amidst cumulative want in this country is not only obscene and callous but also structurally violent.”
She also urged the Legislature to Change the monthly minimum wage from US$143 to at least US$250.
Dr. Pailey, a Professor of Economics and Political Science at the London School of Economics also called for re-visitation of the ‘harmonization policy’ because a country that pays its average workers below-average salaries, is setting itself up for failure.
“We must also reform the Liberia’s pensions and social security system, leading to a complete overhaul of National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP). This way, the agency can serve all workers, including those in the informal sector who represent the backbone of our economy,” she noted.
The National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) was established for the income protection and welfare of employees in both the public and private economic sectors of Liberia.
“When I was growing up as an undocumented immigrant in Washington, DC, my humble and hard-working parents constantly reminded me that diligence and tenacity would be my ticket out of legal limbo” she said.
“How many of us actually value hard work? Some of us want jobs but refuse to put in the time and effort required to secure and maintain a career,” she stressed.
She pointed out: “When given the opportunity, we shirk our responsibilities and demand compensation for doing very little; We must change our ethic around work and propel our labor market into the next century”.
