The Labour Minister, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah has assured the International Labour Organization (ILO) that the Government of Liberia is committed to adhering to the Freedom Association and the harmonization of the two labour laws, but technical assistance is needed from the ILO in this regard.
Minister Kruah said the Government through the Ministry of Labour, has granted the Civil Servants the right to form an Association while encouraging all private sector workers, including health workers and teachers, to form or join unions.
Minister Kruah said after a series of consultations, it was realized that not all public workers are civil Servants, such as health workers and teachers. He said that, unlike in the past, when health workers were not allowed to form a union, those working in the private sector are now granted the right to unionize.
“The fact that there are some restrictions on the Civil Service Standing Orders, the Government has not rule out the possibility of harmonizing the two laws ((the Decent Work Act and the civil Service Standing Orders) that deals with workers in Liberia”. “We asked at the last ILO meeting for technical support in helping us to harmonize these laws. We still want to restate that it is important to ensure that our system conforms to International Labour Standards as a member state.”
Minister Kruah further informed the ILO Mission that these laws were enacted by the National Legislature; as such, the Ministry of Labour cannot move on its own to have them harmonized without the involvement of that Body.
The Liberian Labour Minister was speaking when the Regional Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for English-speaking West African States, Madam Vanessa Phala, ahead of ILO, Technical Advisory Mission of three members met with Officials of the Ministry of Labour during the week.
The meeting was geared towards supporting the Government of Liberia to develop a roadmap for implementing and reporting on International Labour Standards (ILS) while harmonizing the two labour laws of the country (the Decent Work Act and the Civil Service Standing Orders).
Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr., welcomed the ILO Mission and informed them about efforts the Government is making to ensure full implementation of ILO Convention #87.
In response, the Regional Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for English-speaking West African States, Madam Vanessa Phala, said the objective of the Mission visit to Liberia was to follow up on the conclusion of the recommendation of the Committee of Experts of Application of the ILO. Committee made up a tripartite Committee of Workers, Employers and Government.
She said in September 2023, the Committee made several recommendation to the Government of Liberia the applications of ILO Conventions #87 (Freedom of Association) and #98 (the Right to Collective Bargaining).
Dr. Phala ILO Direct Contact Mission, its aim is to facilitate dialogue and provide technical support to help a country address issues related to the application of international labour standards.
She hailed the Minister of Labour for creating the platform for dialogue and to implement the recommendation as well as facilitate the coming together of the partners in Liberia to develop a roadmap that will begin the implementation of the application of standards.
She however noted that this is going to be prolong process that will require continue engagement and dialogue and the International Labour Organization stance ready to providing support to address the conclusion and begin to allow the ILO to support member states (Liberia), Government development priority which is the “ARREST Agenda” which articulate what the government need.
She said that the ILO is also committed to making a meaningful contribution towards the implementation of the Government of Liberia’s development agenda and expressed happiness for the cooperation among the workers, employers, and the Ministry of Labour.
She also pledged ILO continued support to the Ministry of Labour in achieving its agenda for the labour sector of Liberia and the preparation of its response ahead of the upcoming ILO conference in June.
The ILO Regional Director is at the same time stressing the need for the protection and rights in Liberia by allowing workers in all sectors to form unions.
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