Liberia’s Labour Minister, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr., has re-echoed the unwavering commitment of the “Rescue Mission” Government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to uphold a free environment for a united trade union leadership in the country.
Currently, the Liberia Labour Congress (LLC) is rocked by an internal leadership squabble, with the greater sector led by James T. Greaves and Marcus Blamah as President General and Secretary General respectively, while a splinter faction headed by John T. Natt is bitterly contesting the leadership.
However, the larger LLC leadership which practically controls trade union activities at various industrial plants is headquartered at the National Trade Union Building in Gardnersville, recognized by the Liberian Government, while Labour Minister Kruah is engaged in intensive negotiations to reunite the two sides.
Delivering a special statement recently on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai at this year’s International Labour Day, commonly called ‘May Day’ at the LLC Headquarters, Labour Minister Kruah is quoted by a Labour Ministry press release as assuring workers across the country of government’s commitment to protect their rights under ‘The Decent Work Act’ and all standing international labour protocols, including ILO Convention.
Minister Kruah urged the recognized leadership of the LLC to reach out to the ‘Natt Faction’ and form a united umbrella organization, assuring government support to such efforts, adding: “we have limitations, as a government, in dealing with the ongoing LLC crisis so as not to be misconstrued by the international community as undue interference.”
Minister Kruah further stressed that under the current ‘Rescue Mission Government’ of President Boakai, there will be no witch hunt of trade union leaders, legally engaged in constructive advocacy for their members.
He clarified that there are currently two separate sets of labour instruments governing workers; the Civil Service Standing Order which covers public sector workers and The Decent Work Act that governs private sector labourers, stressing the need for the harmonization of the two to benefit all workers, without discrimination.
Earlier, the Secretary General of the LLC, Marcus Blamah, lauded the Government through the Ministry of Labour for the creation of an enabling environment and support to the umbrella trade union leadership and promised LLC’S commitment to remain engaged with National Government in addressing issues confronting workers.
For his part, ILO Liberia Coordinator Salif A. Massaley expressed the organization’s continuous support and collaboration with the Liberian Government and local trade union organizations, under the LLC. The program was attended by several local trade union Organizations and the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, the Labour Ministry press release concluded.
