By: Barclay Karnley
MONROVIA: Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon, has formally written the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, seeking its Plenary endorsement to cite the Minister of Labor, Cllr. Cooper Krauh, to address himself to the increasing issuance of employment permits, otherwise known as ‘work permits’ to non-Liberians in the country.
According to Senator Darius Dillon, Chapter 7, Section 7.1 and Chapter 45 and Section 45.9 of the Decent Work Act authorize the Ministry of Labor to issue Regulations for the issuance of “Work Permit” to aliens, foreigners and/ or non-Liberians.
The Montserrado County Lawmaker further noted, in his communication to the Senate Plenary, which is the highest decision-making arm of the Upper House of Liberia’s bicameral Legislature that, under this authority, as enshrined in the Decent Work Act, the Ministry of Labor issued a “Revised Regulation No.17 (2019)”, setting the conditions for foreign workers in Liberia.
However, the Senator quoted Section 3 of the Regulation of 2019 which states that: “No Permit shall be issued to a non-African alien to work in the informal sector.
He further told the Upper House that under the revised Act of 2019, no Permit shall be issued to any alien to engage in any of the businesses set aside by law, exclusively for Liberians (Emphasis)!
Moreover, Section 6 of the 2019 Regulation carries that: “Except as otherwise provided by law, an employer who seeks to employ must first convince the Ministry of Labor that he/she cannot find a suitable Liberian for an existing vacancy, by showing proof of publication of information regarding such vacancy for at least one month, in at least two local Newspapers and on two local Radio Stations, as well as on two Liberian websites.
Senator Dillon’s communication to the Pro-Tempt further maintained that, such employer should obtain a certificate from the Ministry of Labor as proof of the non-availability of a suitable Liberian.
Until such proof is shown, the Ministry of Labor, consistent with Chapter 45, Section 45.1(c)I of the Decent Work Act, should not issue work permit to an alien, even if such alien has a resident permit.”
“My concern here is that from time to time, year in and year out, the Ministry of Labor has and continues to issue out and renew “Work Permit” to non-Liberians, especially for some skilled and unskilled jobs for which Liberians are “suitable” and readily available for such employments. The Senator asked: “Why this issue has not been addressed?”
The Montserrado County Senator urged members of the Senate to take the issue seriously.
He stressed that the Ministry of Labor’s actions are detrimental to the country’s labor Market.
He called on the Senate to endorse his request to summon the Minister of Labor to clarify the Ministry’s practices and take corrective measures that align with the decent work act.
“The practices by the Ministry of Labor runs contrary to the purpose and intent of the Law, he maintained”.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor on Monday, October 21, 2024 announced the suspension of the issuance of work permit for aliens and foreigners in the Country.
However, the communication from Senator Abraham Darius Dillon requesting the Plenary of the Liberian Senate to cite the Labor Minister for questioning on the issuance of Work Permit to non-Liberians.