Monrovia – The Minister of Labour, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, has firmly rejected accusations leveled in opposition to his Ministry by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darious Dillon.
By Augustus D. R. Bortue
The Senator had alleged that the Ministry of Labour issued hundreds of labor permits to international nationals, undermining alternatives for Liberian staff. Minister Kruah described these allegations as “private, inaccurate, and politically motivated.”
Addressing the press at a briefing on Tuesday, June 17, held on the Ministry of Info, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) headquarters in Monrovia, Minister Kruah supplied complete knowledge and explanations to make clear the Ministry’s stance and operations concerning work permits.
Minister Kruah emphasised that in 2024, the Ministry processed a complete of 10,974 work allow purposes. Nevertheless, he clarified that 75 % of those permits had been renewals for expatriates already legally employed in Liberia earlier than the present administration got here into workplace. Solely 25 % represented new work permits issued.
“The narrative that hundreds of latest permits are being handed out to foreigners to the detriment of Liberian staff is fake,” Minister Kruah said firmly. “In actuality, out of the permits processed in 2024, 7,686 had been renewals, whereas simply 2,484 had been new permits.”
He additional defined that among the many purposes acquired, 8,792 had been common work permits primarily for expatriate staff, 887 had been free of charge permits issued to UN employees, professors, medical doctors, and different important personnel exempt from charges, and 438 had been issued to ECOWAS residents. Moreover, 857 purposes had been denied after due consideration.
Minister Kruah revealed that the Ministry collected US $9.7 million in work allow charges in 2024. Nevertheless, he clarified that these funds weren’t deposited into the Labour Ministry’s accounts however paid on to the Liberia Income Authority (LRA). This, he mentioned, is a vital safeguard that ensures transparency and accountability in monetary administration.
“Our Ministry doesn’t acquire or deal with work allow charges immediately. The Liberia Income Authority oversees all funds, reinforcing the integrity of the method,” the Minister defined.
In response to Minister Kruah, lots of the work permits issued to international nationals are for professionals with specialised technical abilities that stay scarce inside Liberia, significantly in industries akin to deep mining and industrial operations.
“For instance, mining work at Bea Mountain requires staff to function half-hour underground, a activity at the moment managed by extremely skilled expatriate employees. Nevertheless, we’re actively coaching Liberians to imagine these roles sooner or later,” he mentioned.
The Minister supplied a breakdown of expatriate nationalities amongst allow holders, noting that 6,980 of the 8,792 common permits (69%) went to staff from Lebanon and India. One other 2,699 (27%) had been issued to non-ECOWAS Africans, together with professionals from South Africa and Zambia, and 558 (4%) went to ECOWAS nationals.
Minister Kruah cited Chapter 45 of the Respectable Work Act, which stipulates that work permits are solely issued when no certified Liberian is out there to fill a place. Firms receiving permits should additionally decide to coaching Liberians to fill future vacancies.
“Once we deny a piece allow, formal rejection letters are issued. Your complete course of is documented and clear,” Kruah emphasised. “We stay steadfast in imposing rules that prioritize Liberian employment whereas facilitating mandatory international experience.”
The Minister disclosed that the Labour Ministry frequently submits detailed work allow knowledge to the Legislature upon request, reiterating its openness and willingness to cooperate with lawmakers.
“We now have supplied the Senate Labor Committee with complete data, together with names, job titles, and firm affiliations of expatriate staff,” Kruah mentioned. “We urge all stakeholders to help institutional processes as a substitute of publicly undermining our work.”
Addressing considerations that international work permits are displacing Liberian staff, Minister Kruah offered employment statistics exhibiting vital job development for Liberians at main employers.
In response to the info, Bea Mountain’s Liberian workforce elevated from 2,767 workers in 2023 to 4,671 in 2024, an increase of 1,904 jobs. Sethi Brothers noticed development from 1,573 to 2,386 workers; the Metallurgical Firm of Liberia (MCL) expanded from 1,645 to 2,244 workers, and Firestone Liberia’s workforce grew from 4,827 to five,332 workers throughout the identical interval.
“These will increase replicate a more healthy funding local weather and well-targeted labor insurance policies,” Kruah said. “They’re clear proof that Liberian staff will not be being changed however moderately gaining extra employment alternatives.”
Minister Kruah additionally highlighted the Ministry’s energetic function in mediating labor disputes throughout Liberia. He cited current profitable interventions at Firestone in Margibi County, MNG Gold in Grand Bassa, and a serious labor standoff in Buchanan involving African staff.
In a transfer to enhance labor market knowledge, Minister Kruah introduced a partnership with the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Info Companies (LISGIS) to conduct an up to date labor pressure survey. The newest survey, masking 2022 to 2023, signifies a nationwide unemployment price of three.7 %.
“Our dedication is to make sure transparency, equity, and alternative for all Liberians,” Kruah mentioned. “We’ll proceed to implement insurance policies that help financial growth whereas safeguarding the pursuits of Liberian staff.”
