Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon has strongly criticized the federal government’s choice to triple alien work allow charges, arguing the measure does little to deal with unemployment and dangers additional sidelining certified Liberians from the labor market.
The Ministry of Labor final week introduced that the annual value of overseas work permits would rise from $1,000 to $3,000, efficient instantly. Labor Minister Cooper Kruah stated the rise was meant to make sure overseas staff don’t occupy jobs Liberians are able to performing.
However Dillon, in a press release on social media Friday, stated work permits have been by no means meant as a income stream and insisted that the main focus ought to stay on imposing laws that require employers to prioritize Liberian staff.
“Merely rising the charges for work permits doesn’t reduce it,” Dillon stated. “That is one more technique of denying or depriving certified Liberians the chance for jobs in our labor market.”
The senator urged the ministry to strictly implement the rule mandating that corporations promote vacancies for 30 days earlier than making use of for overseas work permits, giving Liberians the primary likelihood at employment. He vowed to push the difficulty when the Legislature reconvenes in October.
Kruah has defended the hike, citing strikes to curb abuse of the allow system. He pointed to Bea Mountain Mining Company, the place the ministry declined to resume greater than 300 expatriate permits for positions Liberians might fill.
The minister additionally highlighted a nationwide youth employment program that positioned greater than 1,300 college students in non permanent jobs this yr as a part of efforts to cut back joblessness.
The Boakai administration has come beneath rising strain to deal with unemployment, with lawmakers questioning why hundreds of labor permits are issued to expatriates amid excessive home joblessness.
