MONROVIA – The Ministry of Labor has made several recommendations to the management of China Railway Development aimed at improving the working conditions of workers at the company.
At a conference held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, with the Management of the company, the Ministry instructed the company to made drinking water available at the job site for the workers, noting that it is wrong to suggest workers to drinking four plastic bags water per day for a worker, especially people who are doing physical jobs.
The Ministry has also mandated the company to pay retroactively three hours overtimes to the workers for the period worked above the actual working hours as per Decent Work Act of Liberia.
It was established during the conference that workers of the company are made to work up to 7:00 P.M. daily three hours above normal working hours without compensations.
The Ministry further encouraged the Management of China Railway Development to hire a Liberian Human Resource Manager within the period of one week since it was disclosed that the company doesn’t have one and most issues coming out of the workplace relates to Decent Work Act of Liberia.
Speaking the during the conference, Labor Minister, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah Sr. said employing a Liberian HR at the company will help to mitigate some of the labour problems being faced by workers.
The Management was also directed to increase the lunch feeling fees from US$1.00 per person to US$2.00 a day considering cost of food. Minister Kruah said the Labor Commissioner of Bomi County has been instructed to ensure the full implementation of the Ministry’s mandates.
Meanwhile, Labor Minister Kruah has said that the Ministry of Labour will work to ensure that all companies are in compliance in ensuring conditions of work are improve and Liberians are giving priority for work in Liberia.
In response, the Management of China Railway welcomed the directives of the Minister of Labour and promised to ensure the full implementation of the recommendation in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.
China Railway Development is a sub contractor company of Bao-CHI-CO, a mining company currently operating in Gbarpolu County, which is responsible for the construction of a railway corridor in Gbarpolu County and a port facility in Bomi County.
It can be recalled that the Ministry of Labour has summoned the managements of Bao-CHI-CO and China Railway Development to a high-level conference to discuss critical issues relating to labour administration and workplace standards.
The conference took place on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Minister, 4th Floor, Ministry of Labour, EJS Ministerial Complex, Congo Town, outside Monrovia.
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