The Ministry of Labour has successfully completed the payment of more than 1,500 students who participated in the 2025 National Vacation Job Program, marking another milestone in the government’s efforts to empower young people and provide them with valuable work experience.
Speaking during the exercise, Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. praised the program’s success and expressed optimism that it will receive even stronger institutional support in the coming years. He noted that the initiative, which began as a pilot project in 2024, has now gained momentum, producing positive feedback from both government and private institutions.
“We are very pleased with the outcome of this year’s vacation job program. No institution reported misconduct from participating students, which shows the seriousness and dedication of our young people. With greater collaboration from government ministries and the private sector, we can expand this initiative to benefit even more students,” Minister Kruah said.
The Minister emphasized the importance of shared responsibility, urging that every ministry allocate funds in its budget to support the program. He also pledged to present this proposal directly to President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., who he said remains committed to creating opportunities for Liberians, especially the youth.
“I am confident that President Boakai will be encouraged to see how this program is changing lives. Even students from the disabled community actively participated and performed exceptionally well. This is a clear sign that with the right support, every Liberian youth can contribute meaningfully to nation-building,” Minister Kruah added.
The Minister further encouraged students who have received employment offers from their host institutions to take their roles seriously and serve as ambassadors of the program, thereby opening doors for more young people in the future.
In response to requests from the disabled community, Minister Kruah assured that his administration is exploring ways to support their inclusion in sustainable employment. He immediately authorized his Deputy Minister for Planning and Manpower Development, Hon. Stephen S. Kolubah, to assess opportunities for integrating qualified individuals from the community into the workforce.
The Ministry reaffirmed that the Vacation Job Program is not only a platform for students to gain professional exposure but also part of President Boakai’s broader vision to expand employment opportunities and empower the next generation of Liberians.
Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, Visually Impaired, Mr. Joseph T. K. Barfeh expressed gratitude to the Minister of Labour and team for being inclusive in the recruitment process by extending help to members of the disable community.
He used the occasion to extend thanks and appreciation to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for not making mistake to appoint Hon. Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. as Minister of Labour.
“Your action is a testament of the Act that established National Commission for Disability, Section 5, which states that “In every Government Line Ministries and Agencies where there are hundred persons employed, four percent of said number should be persons with disabilities”.
He hailed the Ministry for not being discriminatory in their recruitment process which sent a caveat and sanity to the world that disable people there is no reason you should feel complacent to meet the world.
He concluded by telling his colleagues that disability doesn’t means inability and appealed to the Minister consider employing at least one disable person in every department of the Ministry.
The event was witness by representatives of government Ministries, Agencies, the leadership of the HR Association of Liberia as well as the Private sector that collaborated with the Ministry of Labour in the successful implementation of the 2025 vacation job program.