…Of Foreign Work Permits Amid Employment Concerns
By Amos Harris
The Liberian Senate has issued a two-week ultimatum to Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper Kruah, demanding a comprehensive report detailing all work permits issued by the Ministry of Labor. This mandate follows an intense session on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, during which Minister Kruah again failed to produce documentation previously requested by lawmakers.
The issue was vigorously championed by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, who has raised alarms over the alleged issuance of more than 8,000 work permits to non-Liberians without clearly defined job categories or descriptions. Senator Dillon warned that the indiscriminate granting of work permits undermines the employment prospects of qualified Liberian citizens. He argued that this practice violates multiple provisions of the Decent Work Act, particularly Chapter 7, Section 7.1 and Chapter 45, Section 45.9, as amended in Regulation No. 17 of 2019. These laws impose strict limitations on the hiring of foreign nationals and outline specific procedures employers must follow before seeking labor from outside Liberia.
“The law requires that all jobs be publicly advertised for at least 30 days before a foreign hire can be considered,” Dillon stated during the session. “We cannot sit by and allow our own people to be denied opportunities because of administrative negligence or deliberate malpractice.” He further cited Section 3 of the Regulation, which outright prohibits issuing work permits to non-African nationals for jobs in the informal sector such as street vending and petty trading, while Section 6 mandates a certificate of non-availability be secured before a foreign worker is hired.
President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, supporting Dillon’s motion, instructed the Secretary of the Senate to draft a formal communication mandating the Labor Ministry to submit detailed records. She emphasized that the Senate’s decision reflects its commitment to protect Liberian workers and enforce compliance with labor laws. “We cannot allow lax oversight or outdated systems to override our laws,” she declared. “This Senate will stand firm to ensure that job opportunities remain primarily available for Liberians.”
Public reaction has been swift, with some Liberians accusing Minister Kruah of enabling bad labor practices and weakening the integrity of the nation’s labor system. The growing sentiment is that the Ministry of Labor must be held accountable for what critics describe as an erosion of employment fairness.
The Labor Minister is expected to return to the Senate with a full accounting of all foreign work permits issued, including the specific jobs assigned, no later than the first week of June. This latest Senate action signals increasing legislative scrutiny of the Labor Ministry and could mark a turning point in Liberia’s efforts to prioritize its domestic workforce.
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