By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, January 23, 2026: The Plenary of the Liberian Senate on Thursday, January 22, 2026, acquired a communication from 4 Senators submitting a invoice geared toward strengthening entry to labor justice.
The 4 Senators Joseph Ok. Jallah, Alex J. Tyler, Nyonblee Kanga-Lawrence, and Simeon B. Taylor, representing Lofa, Bomi, Grand Bassa, and Grand Cape Mount Counties, respectively, proposed laws, titled “An Act to Amend Chapter 23 of the New Judiciary Regulation, Title 17, Liberian Code of Legal guidelines Revised,” seeks to offer for the operationalization and prioritized institution of labor courts within the 4 counties.
The Senators mentioned the invoice is to strengthen entry to labor justice, fulfil constitutional ensures underneath Article 20(b), enhance enforcement of the Respectable Work Act (2015), and advance decentralization by making certain that Labor Courts already established on paper change into absolutely practical and correctly staffed within the three counties the place they’re most urgently wanted.
The 4 Senators argued that Chapter 23 of the New Judiciary Regulation, Title 17, establishes Labor Courts in every of the fifteen (15) counties of Liberia and vests such courts with unique appellate jurisdiction over labor issues arising from Listening to Officers and Labor Commissioners.
Senators additional mentioned Part 23.16 of the identical Chapter vests short-term labor-appeal jurisdiction within the Debt Courts of the counties till Judges of the Labor Courts are appointed and commissioned.
“WHEREAS after a number of many years the Labor Courts in a number of counties stay non-operational, thereby imposing heavy burdens on employees, employers, agricultural laborers, concession-affected communities, and small companies in securing well timed and cheap entry to justice as assured by Article 20(b) of the Structure,” Senators mentioned.
Senators additionally mentioned Lofa County, Grand Cape Mount County, and Bomi County are main centres of agriculture, concessions, cross-border commerce, and industrial actions, and urgently require practical LaborCourts to advertise industrial peace and secure labour-market governance.
They indicated that whether it is enacted by the Senate and Home of Representatives, the Authorities shall prioritize the institution, staffing, and operationalization of Labor Courts in Lofa County (Voinjama), Grand Cape Mount County (Robertsport), Grand Bassa (Buchanan) and Bomi County (Tubmanburg) inside twelve (12) months of the approaching into drive of this Act.
The proposed act notes that the Judiciary shall, inside the interval laid out in subsection (c), assign and fee a Decide of the Labor Courtroom for every of the 4 prioritized counties.
It additional indicated that the Minister of Finance and Improvement Planning shall embody in every nationwide annual price range a definite line merchandise for the administration, personnel, logistics, bailiffs, clerks, and operational assist for the Labor Courts established underneath subsection.
Upon presentation, the communication was acquired by the Senate plenary and forwarded to the suitable committee for assessment and suggestion.
