Senate Mandates Labor Minister toSubmit List of Work Permits

By: Laymah Kollie

The Plenary of the Liberian Senate has given Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper
Kruah a two-week deadline to submit a comprehensive list of all work permits
issued by the Ministry of Labor.

This decision follows persistent concerns raised by Montserrado County
Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, who accused the Ministry of issuing over 8,000
work permits to non-Liberians without clearly defined job categories or
descriptions. Senator Dillon contended that such practices undermine the rights
of qualified Liberians to gain employment.

Minister Kruah appeared before the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, but
failed once again to produce the requested documentation. His noncompliance
prompted the Senate’s latest mandate.

During the session, Senator Dillon emphasized that the issuance of permits
without due diligence contravenes Chapter
7, Section 7.1 and Chapter
45, Section 45.9 of the Decent Work Act and Revised Regulation No. 17 (2019). He highlighted that these legal provisions
impose strict limitations on the employment of foreign nationals.

Specifically, Dillon cited Section
3 of the regulation, which prohibits the issuance of work permits to non-African nationals for jobs in the informal sector, and Section 6, which requires that all
job vacancies be publicly advertised for at least one month prior to the
Ministry issuing a certificate of non-availability to justify hiring a foreign
national.

A motion by Senator Dillon was passed, instructing the Labor Minister to
provide a detailed breakdown of permits issued, including job titles and
employer information, within 14 days.

Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence directed the Senate
Secretariat to communicate the mandate officially.

Addressing the Minister, she stated, “We cannot allow lax oversight or
outdated systems to override our laws. This is about protecting jobs for
Liberians.”