Monrovia – A long-running campaign by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon for stricter enforcement of Liberia’s labour laws appears to be gaining traction, following the Ministry of Labour’s rejection of work permit applications for three expatriate employees seeking to work on the Dugbe Gold Project.
For many months, Senator Dillon has argued that work permits should not merely serve as a source of government revenue but must be issued strictly in accordance with Liberia’s labour laws. He has repeatedly maintained that foreign nationals should only be employed after employers demonstrate that no qualified Liberian is available for the position and after the jobs have been publicly advertised to give Liberians an equal opportunity to compete.
The Senator’s sustained advocacy was at times met with criticism, with some accusing him of targeting Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah Sr. because the Minister hails from Nimba County. Others even alleged that Dillon’s position reflected hostility toward Nimbians.
However, the Senator consistently rejected those claims, insisting that his campaign was solely intended to protect employment opportunities for qualified Liberians and ensure full compliance with the Decent Work Act and other labour regulations.
In what many observers see as a significant shift toward stricter enforcement of the law, the Ministry of Labour has now rejected applications submitted by Hummingbird Resources (Liberia) Inc. for work permits for three expatriates proposed for employment by Mansa Resources, the company seeking to take over the multi-million-dollar Dugbe Gold Project.
Official documents from the Ministry show that the company had sought work permits for Jesse Jody Suat of Papua New Guinea as Chief Surveyor, Warren George Baldwin of Australia as Maintenance Superintendent, and Jason Joubert of South Africa as Commercial Manager.
However, in a July 21, 2026 communication signed by Acting Labour Minister Othello P. Mansuo, the Ministry denied all three applications, citing the company’s failure to comply with Liberia’s employment procedures.
The Ministry said the positions had not been advertised locally as required under Standing Order No. 2 and Regulation No. 19. It instructed the company to advertise the vacancies in at least two local daily newspapers for 30 days before reapplying for work permits, thereby giving qualified Liberians an opportunity to compete for the jobs.
The Ministry further reminded the company that expatriates cannot legally work in Liberia without valid work permits and warned that violations could attract penalties under the Decent Work Act of 2015.
The decision has drawn attention because it mirrors the very principles Senator Dillon has consistently championed in recent years—that Liberian jobs should first be made available to qualified Liberians before employers seek permission to recruit foreign workers.
The work permit rejection also comes as Mansa Resources awaits government approval for a Change of Control involving the Dugbe Gold Project following its acquisition of Pasofino Gold, placing additional focus on the company’s compliance with Liberia’s labour laws and the employment obligations contained in its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA).
The MDA requires the company to comply with Liberia’s labour laws and give preference to qualified Liberians for technical, administrative, managerial and other skilled positions. It also establishes Liberianization targets requiring Liberians to occupy an increasing share of senior management positions over time.
While the Ministry’s decision does not permanently prevent the company from hiring expatriates, it requires the employer to first satisfy the legal requirement of demonstrating that qualified Liberians were given a fair opportunity to apply. The company may resubmit its applications after complying with the Ministry’s directives.
As of publication, neither Mansa Resources nor Hummingbird Resources (Liberia) Inc. had publicly responded to the Ministry’s decision.
