The United Seamen, Ports, and General Workers’ Union of Liberia (USPOGUL) has issued a strong warning to the Liberian government: ensure Liberians are hired aboard ships flying the national flag by October 15, or face global industrial action.
The union’s demand highlights a growing labor crisis in Liberia’s maritime sector. Despite over 77,000 crew members serving on more than 5,600 vessels registered under the Liberian flag—the second-largest ship registry in the world—none are Liberian nationals.
USPOGUL President-General Freeman Trokon Gueh expressed deep frustration, accusing government institutions, including the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), the Ministry of Labor, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of deliberately sidelining qualified Liberian seafarers.
He claimed that foreign nationals are being issued Liberian seafarers’ identity documents and that dues meant for Liberian workers are being diverted elsewhere.
“The government and LiMA are wicked,” Gueh stated. “Our facilities are being misused, and our people are being ignored.”
USPOGUL is demanding that at least two Liberians be employed on each of the 5,600 ships flying the Liberian flag. If this condition is not met by the deadline, the union says it will initiate solidarity actions worldwide, including blocking Liberian-flagged vessels from loading or unloading cargo at ports.
Adding to the pressure, Madam Jackie N.W. Doe, Women Chair for the International Transport Federation (ITF), echoed the union’s concerns. She accused LiMA of prioritizing foreign workers over trained Liberians, calling the situation “an injustice to the nation.”
In response to the growing outcry, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Ambassador Robert W. Kpadeh, emphasized the importance of skills development. He noted that while the government is committed to increasing Liberian participation in maritime jobs, citizens must first obtain proper qualifications.
“The opportunities are there,” Kpadeh said, referencing ongoing government-funded training programs at the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Ghana. “Liberians must rise to the challenge and seize them.”
The Liberia Maritime Authority has made efforts to support maritime education by awarding full academic scholarships to 22 Liberian students pursuing maritime careers.
In a parallel move aimed at curbing the influx of foreign labor, the Ministry of Labor recently tripled the cost of foreign work permits—from $1,000 to $3,000—as a disincentive to companies favoring foreign hires over locals.
As the October 15 deadline approaches, the standoff between USPOGUL and the Liberian government is shaping up to be a major test of the Boakai administration’s promises on job creation, transparency, and national empowerment.
