Liberia: Labour Ministry, ILO Strengthen Tripartite Engagement, Conclude Week-Long Forum to Harmonize Local Trade Unions

Monrovia – The Liberian Government, through the Ministry of Labour and visiting Delegation of Experts from the International Labour Organization (ILO), has concluded an intensive weeklong engagement with key decisions aimed at promoting status of the Liberian workforce and Harmonization of The Decent Work Act.

Among major decisions reached at the conclusion of the forum over the weekend, was the need for both private and public sector workers to harmonize their existing unions into a single umbrella organization to represent their overall interests.

According to a Labour Ministry press release, Labour Minister hon. Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. who hosted the strategic tripartite dialogue engagement, noted several concerns raised by the Visiting ILO delegation; including the need to allow trade unions in the country to operate without government interference, merger of others into a single umbrella organization, inclusion of civil servants into the proposed umbrella trade union, allowing health workers to form their own union, as well as granting expatriate workers in the country the right  to organize into a workplace union or join other local trade unions of their choosing.

In response to these concerns, Minister Kruah disputed claims of government interference into trade activities, assuring the President Joseph Nyuma Boakai-led Administration’s fullest commitment to upholding freedom of expression, association and trade activities in line with all standing conventions of The ILO and related international organizations.

Addressing the issue alleged government interference into trade union activities, as raised by the visiting ILO Delegation, the Labour Minister dispelled the report and clarified that since the democratic ascendancy of the current government, there has been no reported government interference into trade union organizations, but acknowledged the existence of split within the umbrella trade unions called ‘The Liberian Labour Congress (LCC); a case that is purely judicial and beyond the control of the Ministry.

He, however, revealed that his administration has been frantically engaged into ‘behind the scene negotiation process’ with the conflicting LLC parties to find an amicable out of court settlement. The Labour Minister, then urged the ILO to play a motherly role in the resolution of the ongoing crisis within the LLC, against recognizing one group over the other.

Minister Kruah further informed the ILO delegation that health workers in the country, like civil servants, have their constitutional rights, like any other citizens to organize or form their own associations or unions, something which is currently existing with ‘The Health Workers Association’ and ‘Civil Servants Association’; stressing that government recognizes these organic constitutional rights that can be violated.

On the status of Maritime Workers, the Minister pointed out that they, too, have similar rights to organize or form their own union, disclosing that already, the ministry acknowledges the existence of ‘The Stevedoring and Port Workers Union of Liberia’, with no restrictions from the Liberian Government. He then called on the ILO to provide training opportunities and logistical support to trade union leaders and the ministry as part of Liberia’s continuous commitment to the ILO, as a founding member.

Meanwhile, the Head of the ILO visiting Delegation, professor Inriolata Chinyangarara, has commenced Labour Minister Kruah and the Liberian Government for the kind reception accorded his team, and called for the creation of a joint ILO-MOL Technical Working Committee to bridge any gap in relations to the cordial working atmosphere between the parties. Other members of the ILO Visiting Delegation to Liberia include: Austin Braneh, Kofi Quashigah, Vanessa Phala, among others.

The dialogue was also attended by madam Catherine Karmo, Secretary General of the Liberia Labour Congress, Deemie Dearzrua, Acting Secretary General of National Health Workers Union of Liberia, representatives from the Liberian Senate and House of Representatives.