Minister of Labour, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, is facing the risk of contempt charges from the Liberian Senate due to his failure to submit detailed reports outlining the job descriptions of foreign nationals granted work permits in Liberia.
Despite being under oath, Minister Kruah has not complied with the Senate Plenary’s directive to provide comprehensive data on the number and nature of work permits issued to non-Liberians.
The Senate has repeatedly requested, over the past four months, that the Minister specify the exact job categories and descriptions associated with each permit granted. According to the Senate, this persistent non-compliance could be interpreted as an obstruction of their constitutional oversight responsibilities.
Following a formal citation, Minister Kruah appeared before the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. However, lawmakers were left dissatisfied after he once again failed to present the required job-specific details.
The Minister was specifically instructed to provide information on the job roles granted to foreigners in accordance with established policies under the Liberian Labor Law. Instead, he only presented the total number of foreign work permits issued, omitting critical details regarding the nature of the jobs.
Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, who has been vocal on this issue, expressed frustration over the Minister’s continued failure to furnish the Senate with necessary information. Dillon and his colleagues strongly criticized the Minister during the session, emphasizing the gravity of the matter.
The Senate’s inquiry stems from concerns raised in October 2024, when Senator Dillon petitioned the Senate to investigate the Ministry of Labour’s issuance and renewal of work permits—particularly in sectors where qualified Liberians are available for employment.
In his communication to the Plenary, Dillon suggested that the Ministry’s actions may violate the Decent Work Act and its related regulations, which govern the employment of foreign nationals.
He cited specific provisions, including Chapter 7, Section 7.1, and Chapter 45, Section 45.9 of the Decent Work Act, which empower the Ministry to issue rules for foreign employment. In 2019, the Ministry enacted “Revised Regulation No. 17,” which imposes strict conditions on the issuance of work permits.
Section 3 of the 2019 regulation explicitly states that no permit shall be issued to non-African aliens to work in the informal sector, nor to any alien to engage in businesses exclusively reserved for Liberians. Dillon argued that these provisions are being disregarded, with foreign nationals being granted permits for roles where Liberians are both qualified and available.
Additionally, Section 6 requires employers to prove that no suitable Liberian candidate is available for a job before hiring a foreigner. This includes publishing job vacancies in two newspapers, two radio stations, and two Liberian websites for at least one month, followed by obtaining a certificate from the Ministry confirming the unavailability of a Liberian candidate.
“My concern is that year in and year out, the Ministry of Labour continues to issue and renew work permits to non-Liberians—even for skilled and unskilled jobs where Liberians are qualified,” Senator Dillon said. “This undermines the intent of the law and worsens our unemployment crisis, especially in the private sector.”
With tensions rising, the Senate is now weighing contempt charges as a means of compelling the Minister to comply and uphold the rule of law.
