The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Labour, has announced a nationwide audit of alien work permits in business and concession areas, starting today, June 3, 2025.
In a press conference on June 2, 2025, at his office in Congo Town, Minister Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. stated that the audit will take place over a six-month period. The purpose of this audit is to ensure that foreign workers employed in Liberia are adhering to the terms of their work permits. It will also verify that non-Liberians holding work permits are fulfilling the job roles specified in their permit applications.
The Ministry has identified a concerning trend in which employers misrepresent the actual job responsibilities of foreign employees during the permit application process, particularly during renewals.
As a result, starting with this audit, all employers are required to submit the approved work permit applications for all foreign workers, along with a list of Liberian employees and their job titles, and a list of all foreign employees and their positions.
Minister Kruah warned that any company found to have misrepresented the job function of a foreign worker will have their work permit revoked. Additionally, foreign workers who are found to be operating outside the scope of their approved roles may face legal action under the Decent Work Act of 2015.
The Minister emphasized that transparency and compliance with national labor regulations are crucial for protecting job opportunities, ensuring fair labor practices, and maintaining workforce integrity. He urged all employers and foreign workers to fully cooperate with the special audit team throughout this process.
Furthermore, Minister Kruah announced that the Ministry would be presenting a comprehensive list of permits issued to the Liberian Senate today. This follows a Senate mandate requiring the Minister to submit this list within two weeks.
The Senate’s action was prompted by ongoing concerns raised by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon regarding the issuance of over 8,000 work permits to non-Liberians without specified job categories or descriptions. Senator Dillon contended that issuing work permits without job categories denies qualified Liberians employment opportunities.
The Senate’s mandate came after Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper Kruah appeared before the Senate Plenary on May 20, 2025, and failed to provide the requested documentation. During that session, Senator Dillon pointed out that the issuance of work permits without adequate scrutiny violates Chapter 7, Section 7.1 and Chapter 45, Section 45.9 of the Decent Work Act with Revised Regulation No. 17 (2019), which imposes strict conditions on the employment of foreign nationals.
Senator Dillon further reminded Minister Kruah that Section 3 of the Regulation prohibits the granting of permits to non-African nationals seeking jobs in the informal sector, while Section 6 requires employers to publicize job vacancies for at least a month before the Ministry can issue a certificate of non-availability and approve a foreign hire.
Based on a motion, the Minister of Labour was mandated to submit detailed data specifying the jobs given to non-Liberians. In instructing the Senate Secretary to communicate this requirement, President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence emphasized that the Senate’s decision aims to protect jobs for Liberians, stating, “We cannot allow lax oversight or outdated systems to override our laws.”
