The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) says it is critically drawn to the ongoing investigation of Labor Minister, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, by the Liberian Senate for the issuance of more than 8,000 work permits to non-Liberians without disclosing job categories or descriptions.
The CSNL in a release on Friday, May 23, 2025, described the Senate’s investigation as overreach and intimidation. The CSNL said as the institution of government clothed with the statutory authority to give work permits to non-Liberians, the Ministry of Labor issuance of 8,000 work permits does not violate any law of Liberia. According to the group, it’s independent investigation revealed that Cllr. Kruah’s administration inherited a work permit data collection system that does not capture the specific job description of non-Liberians seeking work permit, adding that the Ministry’s work permits records show that the Kruah’s administration renewed the work permits of 7,633 and provided new work permits to 2,884 non-Liberians, and not the entire 8,000 work permits as being wrongly insinuated.
“In fact, as Minister of Labor, Cllr. Cooper Kruah denied 857 non-Liberians work permits, which is unprecedented. Minister Kruah courageously denied these illegal migrants for violating Section 4b of the Ministry’s 2019 Revised Regulations#17, which speaks to the Liberianization Policy,” the CSNL release, under the signature of its Executive Director Sensee Kiadii, stated
The civil society group said it is unequivocally clear that the Decent Work Act of 2015 does not specifically provide for the request of specific job descriptions before the issuance of work permit to non-Liberians, there is no clearly laid down mandate to the Ministry of Labor on what should be done or not relating to specific job categories of non-Liberians seeking work permits.
The CSNL called on the Legislature, especially the Liberian Senate, to take the lead to amend the labor law of Liberia and clearly define jobs that are exclusively for Liberians to avoid the ambiguity in the law, but in the meantime, it urged the Senate to give Minister Kruah and his team the chance to implement the reforms being instituted at the Ministry.
The Civil Society Network of Liberia considers it as disingenuous and unfair that “despite the gains Cllr. Kruah is making at the Ministry of Labor, the Liberian Senate could choose to intimidate him in carrying out the functionality of the ministry,” adding that the Ministry of Labor raised over 9million as support to the 2024 National Budget and is currently expected to contribute 10.5 million to the 2025 budget.
The group believes that it is unfortunate that the Liberian Senate would be questioning Cllr. Kruah of selling 8,000 work permits, which it said is false, with the Ministry giving such huge budgetary support.
As a watchdog that believes in the stability of the governance of the state, the Civil Society Network of Liberia calls for constructive dialogues between the Ministry of Labor and the Liberian Senate in designing or improving the policies and regulations governing the issuance of work permits to non-Liberians.
“Instead of unnecessarily exercising legislative power, it is wise and timely that collaboration, coordination and consultation be the yardstick to ensuring that the interest of the Liberian People are protected,” the CSNL release noted.
