IPNEWS-Monrovia: Labor Minister, Cllr. Charles H. Gibson has disclosed that the Ministry has generated US$2.5 million from the projected US$3.8 million for the 2022 budget year from January to June, a press statement signed and issued by the Ministry’s Deputy Director for Communications/Public Affairs, Darius K. Weamie says.
According to Minister Gibson, the money was generated from the issuance of Work Permit in various categories like, “Regular, Gratis, ECOWAS, and Imposition of Fines” for labor violations.
Minister Gibson further disclosed that, the Ministry will continue to carry out regular labor inspection in full compliance with the “Decent Work Act” to ensure the lawful collection of government revenue through Work Permit and by the end of this year 2022, the money will exceed up to Five Million United States Dollars (US$5,000,000.00).
The Liberia Labor Minister who spoke during the just- ended Cabinet Retreat held in Ganta City, Nimba said, the Ministry of Labor is in collaboration with CETIS, and contractors to embark upon the digitalization process in early September of this year for the Issuance of “Work Permit” as another means of collecting revenue that will enhance labour inspection and create more jobs.
Minister Gibson also told the gathering that, about Fifteen 4×4 Pickups, Five Sedans, Two Jeeps and 35 Isuzu motorbikes are already in the country and being cleared from the Freeport of Monrovia for the project, and annual collection of revenue is expected to increase threefold and increase visibility to insure the protection of workers throughout Liberia.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor has at the same time mitigated labor disputes and avoided strike actions through Social Dialogue in several Concessions and Companies operating across the country.
Some of the concession areas include, the APM Terminals, Liberia Agriculture Company, ArcelorMittal Liberia, SETHI Fabric, BEA Mountain, DEKO Mining, Firestone Liberia, National Transit Authority, Cocopa Rubber Plantation, Liberia Electricity Cooperation, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, including the Robert International Airport.
According to Minister Gibson, about 117 labor-related cases were reported from January to June of 2022, and 32 of those cases have been resolved while 85 are still undergoing hearing through Social Dialogue.
In a related development, the Bureau of Employment at the Ministry of Labor has registered about 7,615 job seekers that are all University graduates and their recommendation for job placements in various concessions companies, business entities and International Non-Governmental Organizations are ongoing.
The office of the Minister of Labor has also received genuine assurance from the Liberia Chambers of Commerce for the employment of five hundred (500) job seekers, mainly University Graduates; and the Ministry is also in the process of reviewing and revising the National Employment Policy of Liberia.
“There has been high demand for skilled workers like, Welders, Carpenters, Plumbers, Masons, Heavy Duty Operators including many others, and some of them have also been employed with mining and construction companies operating in various parts of the country,” the Labor Ministry statement said.
The release concluded stating, “The bureau has at the same time embarked on the Annual Vacation Job Scheme intended to provide more jobs for youth that are still going to school to get them some basic things while in class.”
