IPNEWS: Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung has said that there has been several instances of bad labor practices and abuse of human rights against employees and laborers in the public and private sectors.

Speaking at the launch of the National Action Plan for Business and Human Right on August 14, 2024, held at the Monrovia city Hall in Monrovia, Koung noted that the protection of human rights goes beyond borders and as such, it must capture laborers and employees who bear the greatest burdens and consequences from bad business operations.

According to Koung, for too long Liberians have called for the formulation and implementation of policies and laws to regulate widespread human rights abuses by businesses across the nation saying that the gathering is an answer to this call and an expression of the government’s commitment to promote responsible business practices in all sectors of the country.

“While it is true that we continue to make the case for more investments in our economy to expand the private sector and create jobs for our citizens, I urge existing and potential investors to put the welfare of our people at the center of their business operations”, the Liberian Leader said.

VP Koung indicated that as a politician with business expertise, he has observed that the present climate of irresponsible business practices provide profit for companies but does little for the people, adding that a sustainable and stable business environment calls for accountability, transparency, equality, social cohesion, the rule of law, and respect of human rights for all.

“As we make history today, as the 4th country in Africa to adopt such a visionary plan, we do so with an understanding that the wellbeing of our citizens is the only pathway for achieving sustainable development”, Koung noted.

He asserted that he also sees the human right action plan dialogue as victory in Liberia after many years of advocacy for the protection of human rights in the business sector.

The Vice President emphasized that the launch of the human right plan is not just historic, but it gives hope to the citizens that the government is concerned about their wellbeing, adding that businesses that continue to engage in bad labor practices must be held accountable.

He further called on Liberians to urgently implement the human rights plan to ensure their quest for economic development does not continue to undermine human rights, stressing that a society which seeks economic growth at the detriment of its citizens will eventually decline.

Koung noted that Liberians must not be occupied with facilitating investments and ignore the implementation of responsible business practices adding that it is the collective responsibility to ensure that the direct investments we seek create more good than harm for the people.

“I therefore recommend a national dialogue between the crafters of this plan and the business community, to create a sense of awareness on respective roles and responsibilities”, the VP said. Courtesy of 𝑬. 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒅𝒊 𝑵𝒚𝒆𝒏𝒎𝒐𝒉 (𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐀)