Labor Ministry intensifies National Inspection, ensures Job Security

The Government of Liberia(GoL), through the Ministry of Labor, has intensified inspection and enforcement across business sites including houses across the country.

The one- month exercise, according to the Special Assistant to Labor Minister, Cllr. Charles Gibson, Josephus Flomo began in Grand Bassa County, while another team has been dispatched across Southeastern Liberia.

The move, he told reporters, among other things, is to ensure that businesses and employers fully abide or be in full compliance with the labor laws of the country.

The Ministry, he said, is fully ready and very equipped as well as mobile to execute its mandate in line with the laws and will leave no stone unturned in order to enforce it.

"We will enforce the laws to the letter and we will ensure that those who are not in compliance will be brought to book," Mr.  Flomo stated. 

 
The Ministry, as part of the exercise and following a tipoff recently shut down China Mall, a new business investment by the Chinese in Paynesville for about few hours but later reopened after fruitful discussions between the Senior Management and Labor Inspectors in the interest of the workers.

China Mall, unlike before, operated on a daily hired basis contrary to the labor Laws of the country.

But following the Ministry's intervention through a robust inspection and enforcement team, the business now has  fifty seven Liberians,  who have officially signed a written contract with the business entity.

The new contracts, according to some of the beneficiaries, all Liberians now speak to job security unlike the previous daily hired work and they are glad for such a remarkable initiative on the part of both the Labor Ministry and the management of China Mall.

The happy workers with s sign of relief on their faces hailed the government through the Ministry of Labor for their timely intervention.

"We also thank our employers for being in compliance with the labor law, we are grateful," they added.

According to them, the new contract is encouraging as they now have a day off and have a reliable take home salary at the end of the month in addition to their over time .

The contract agreement in two phrases both for probation employees for three months and one year for others respectively also include an over time for each worker.

Mr. Flomo, who also commended China Mall for respecting the labor laws of the country,  at the same time,  encouraged  other employers and big businesses to follow suit.

He used the occasion to warn businesses who are taking advantage of Liberians in the name of giving them jobs to desist.

" Liberia is a free country and you can come and invest but you need to respect our laws as well as our people," he stated. 

The hard working and impact driven  Special Assistant to Minister Charles Gibson also urged all whistle blowers not to be afraid of losing their jobs but to report on any bad law practices at their job sites as they will move in and will to enforce the laws including protecting  their jobs.

Meanwhile, as the month- long exercise continues nationwide, Mr. Flomo  emphasized the need for business houses operating across the country to always be in compliance with the labor laws of the country for the betterment of the Liberian people and the nation at large.