MONROVIA – Senate Pro-Tempore, Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence has instructed the committee on Labor to scrutinize and advise Plenary on Liberia’s 2024 Alien work Permit analysis presented by Civil Service Agency (CSA) for appropriate actions.
The Report presented to Plenary on Tuesday, June 17, by Civil Service Agency Director General Josiah Joekai, was based on a decision reached by the Plenary of the Senate requesting him to provide an in-depth analysis of work permit issuance to foreign nationals in Liberia emanating from previous report submitted by Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah.
According to CSA boss, the total work permit issued from January-December 2024 stands at 10,103. The permits, he said were given in three categories with Indian nationals constituting the highest at 51.79%.
These categories he added include 8,792 Regular work permits (Long term Jobs) constituting 87%, 438 ECOWAS work Permit at 4% and 873 Gratis work permit (Humanitarian/Non-profit) also constituting 8.64%.
Highlighting the highest employers, Afcon, a sub company hired by ArcelorMittal received the total of 3,019 work permits for foreign employees, Bea Mountain 1,895 and ArcelorMittal 728 work permits during the period under review.
According to DG Joekai, the decent work act provides security and protection for Liberians and foreigners to compete for jobs at the highest and Managerial levels equally with emphasis on prioritizing Liberians with local expertise as in skills, knowledge and experiences.
The CSA Director General further indicated that the decent Work Act states that before issuing a work permit, the Ministry of Labor must have established that the position for which the permit is been sorted for shall imply that no Liberian is qualified for said position and must be duly advertised and vetted before permit is given to non-Liberians.
He disclosed that based on the CSA findings, 6,156 regular jobs are occupied by aliens which he said should be reserved for Liberians that are trained and qualified to work, 315 out of 438 ECOWAS jobs which Liberians should be benefiting from are also ben occupied by foreign nationals and 873 out of 562 gratis jobs are to be reserved for Liberians also but were sadly given to non-Liberians.
Meanwhile the Senate committee on Labor is expected to make its final review and recommendations and report next Tuesday on said matter.
