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Ministry of Labour Review Regulation On Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

Monrovia, July 6, 2025…The Ministry of Labour, through its Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Division has convened a high-level national stakeholders meeting for the review of Regulation No. 19 under Chapter 29 of the Liberian Labor Law.

Speaking during the opening of the two days event, Labour Minister, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. said that his administration will work ensure that every section at industrial site have a safety officer as a means of protecting workers against dangerous and risk work environments.

 Minister Kruah, emphasized the importance of Health and safety of workers at work noting this has not only being recognized in Liberia, but the world over.

He said it is important that the Ministry of Labour takes the led because there are Liberians working in these environment with dangerous materials as such, need full protection from these risk associated with their work.

The Labour Minister told participants that Chapter 6, of the Decent Work Act of Liberia or the Labour Law deeds with the issue of OHS in details but requires the Ministry to promulgate Regulations to ensure that every workplace adhere to the provision of said regulation.

He said that though there has been a Division at the Ministry charged to enforce Health and safety at workplace, but its functions has been limited due to the lack of a regulation to ensure compliance in line with Decent Work Act of Liberia. 

Minister Kruah announced that his Ministry has set aside a special training center that will it train all health and safety personnel in Liberia when the Regulation is finalized.

The Ministry reaffirmed its dedication to providing ongoing capacity building, policy guidance, and technical support to ensure that the proposed Regulation #19 is in line with best practices and international labour standards.

The Liberia Labour Minister was speaking at the opening of two-day review of the draft Regulation #19, of the Ministry of Labour on Occupational Health and safety (OHS), held at the Ministry from Thursday, July 4-Friday, July 5, 2025. 

Giving the overview of the process, the Director of the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) of the Ministry, Mr. Jimmy George said this crucial engagement aimed at modernizing Liberia’s occupational health and safety framework in line with international best practices, particularly those of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Director  George, called on stakeholders to embrace collective responsibility in transforming workplace safety across the country.

He added that key objectives and highlights of the review as one intended to strengthening Regulation No. 19 to reflect international OHS standards and address sector-specific needs.

He named the extending coverage to critical sectors including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, food services, and transportation; institutionalizing certification programs and training for OHS personnel and workers at all levels; and establishing a clear compliance and enforcement framework to enhance workplace safety, improve labor conditions, and generate national revenue.

Speakers emphasized the connection between a safe workplace and national productivity, family welfare, and sustainable development. Stakeholders reflected on lessons learned from regional experiences and applauded the Ministry for progress being made since the reform process began in June 2024.

Director noted that review which held under the Theme: “Strengthening Occupational Health and Safety for a Safer, Productive Liberia” when finalized, will help to regulate and enforce compliance OHS standards at places of work in Liberia.

In separate remarks, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of HSE Solutions Inc. Mr. Erickson T. Brown and Madam Teta Lorpu Wormonue of TIBA Industrial Group unanimously committed to supporting the finalization and implementation of the regulation.

They promised commitment to protecting the dignity of labor in Liberia and advancing workplace health and safety as a national development priority.

The event brought together the Minister of Labor, Deputy and Assistant Ministers, senior technicians of the Ministry, representatives from organized labor, employers’ associations, development partners, and the  private sector.

 

Government Revokes 19 Alien Work Permits:

Liberia’s Labour Minister, Hon. Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. has, with immediate effect revoked Alien Work Permits for 19 expatriate workers.

They are further to be forwarded to the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) for possible deportation on charges  of “distortion or misrepresentation”.

A Labour Ministry press release issued quotes Minister as revealing at a major press conference on June 25, at his EJS Ministerial Complex office that the revocation of the alien work permits  is just the beginning of a major shakeup ongoing within the labour sector under President Joseph Nyumah Boakai ‘Rescue Mission Government’.

Minister Kruah, addressing scores of Journalists, disclosed that the ongoing Alien Work Permits Audit Exercise launched a few weeks ago is intended to ensure strict compliance with the relevant provisions of The Decent Work Act which prohibit misrepresentation to obtain work permit.

The Minister maintained: “since our incumbency, we have striven to ensure that businesses abide by the Labour Laws of our country and those found in violation of our laws have been fined or made to face other penal measures, like we have announced today”.

He added that his administration has caused many qualified citizens to gain direct contractual and permanent employment with some companies. Among investment conglomerates whose expatriate workers were affected by the Labour Ministry’s Alien Work Permits Revocation action are:

United Motors corporation (UMC), Pee Cee &Sons, Stop & Shop Supermarket and ORCA. Others are: Boulevard Palace and International Aluminum Factory. Meanwhile, Minister Kruah has announced the commencement of the second phase of the Annual Students Vacation Job Program, aimed at providing financial subsidies to needy students.

According to the Labour Minister, unlike last year when a little over 300 school going youth benefited, this year’s project targets about 1,000 beneficiaries. He lauded friendly investment companies for their continuous support for the program, describing it as “The Heartbeat of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s ARREST AGENDA’ to empower the youthful population of the country.

Labour Ministry Launches Validation Workshop On Occupational Health And Safety For Workers

Monrovia, July 14, 2025: The Ministry of Labour and stakeholders have launched a three day intensive workshop to validate and adopt Regulation Number 19 of The Decent Work Act. 

Regulation 19 of The Decent Work Act deals with occupational health, safety and Welfare of workers in various formal and informal sectors, including agriculture and forestry, construction and building, mining, manufacturing, oil and gas industry, among others.

According to a Labour Ministry press release, participants at the workshop are drawn from key sectors of society, including Ministries of Justice, Commerce and Industry, Agriculture, Health, Mines, EPA and a cross section of Liberia’s trade union groups.

In his official opening address at the workshop, Labour Minister Hon. Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. emphasized the importance of the exercise which, he described as a key component of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s ‘ARREST Agenda’ that guarantees the safety, health and welfare of the citizens, especially  workers in hazardous industrial work places.

Minister Kruah expressed grave concerns over the recent wave of industrial accidents and challenged participants at the workshop to deliberate, make constructive inputs and sincere suggestions that will lead to the final validation of the document for the protection of workers across the country.

Earlier, the Director of Occupational Health And Safety at the Ministry of Labour, Ambassador Jimmy George outlined key components of Regulation Number 19, which mandate employers to institute several health and safety measures to safeguard the welfare of their workers. These, according to the Labour Ministry official, include: provision and maintenance of a safe and healthy work environment, conduct of  regular risk assessment and hazard identification, training of workers on safety procedures, as well as combined compliance requirements for employers.

Making a bullet point presentation on behalf of participating stakeholders at the workshop, The Chief Executive Officer of a leading Liberian Health, Safety and Environment firm, HSE, Mr. Erickson Brown stressed the importance of safety for employers, employees and visitors at the workplace and called for the validation of Regulation 19 of The Decent Work Act, to conform to international standards. The final validated version of the regulation is expected to be widely circulated to all major investment conglomerates, trade unions and the general public through massive publicity outreach, the Labour Ministry press release concluded.