The Liberian Senate has mandated its Secretary to formally communicate with the President of Liberia, requesting a temporary suspension of all work permits until the Senate concludes its investigation.
This decision was reached on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, during a plenary session following a motion by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon. Senator Dillon urged the Senate to investigate concerns surrounding the issuance of work permits, also known as employment permits, to non-Liberians.
The Senate also endorsed a report from its Committee on Labour, mandating the Minister of Labour to provide a detailed breakdown of the categories of work permits currently issued to non-Liberians.
In a statement, the Senate noted that Senator Dillon emphasized the need to probe alleged violations of existing labor regulations, which prioritize both skilled and unskilled employment opportunities for Liberian citizens.
Senator Dillon referenced Chapter 7, Section 7.1, and Chapter 45, Section 45.9 of the Decent Work Act, which grants the Ministry of Labour authority to issue work permits. However, he highlighted that the revised Regulation No. 17 of 2019 imposes strict conditions restricting the employment of non-Africans in Liberia’s informal sector, reserving certain job categories exclusively for Liberians.
The Senate Labour Committee’s report further underscored concerns about low employment rates among Liberians in various institutions, attributing this to non-Liberians occupying positions legally designated for Liberians. The report also criticized the Ministry of Labour for prioritizing revenue generation through work permits at the expense of enforcing regulations aimed at protecting jobs for Liberians.
The Senate’s decision signals a firm commitment to addressing labor market challenges and ensuring adherence to national labor laws designed to protect Liberian workers.
