Labor Ministry Launches National Roadmap -Focuses on Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities

MONROIA – The Ministry of Labor has launched a national roadmap Wednesday, September 17, 2025, called “the National Roadmap on Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities in Liberia” at the Ministry of Labour, EJS ministerial Complex, Congo Town, Monrovia.

In remarks at the launch, Labor Minister Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. assured members of the Disable community that his administration would establish a Disability Desk within the Ministry to serve as a central platform for coordinating policies, monitoring progress, and ensuring accountability on disabilities-inclusion employment.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Labor, I am honored to present the Roadmap on Decent Work for persons with Disabilities in Liberia,” he said. “This document marks a significant step towards building an inclusive world of work in Liberia, one where persons with disabilities can participate fully, safely and productively, and where their rights and contributions are recognized and valued.”

Minister Kruah emphasized that priorities outlined in the Roadmap would be mainstreamed into the National Labor Plan, so that the inclusion of persons with disabilities are not treated as a stand-alone initiative but is instead embraced as a central pillar of our national labor priorities.

He said his Ministry recognizes the right to decent work for persons with disabilities can only be achieved when workplaces are made accessible, when safety and fairness are guaranteed, and when employment opportunities are both gainful and sustainable.

“This requires the collective responsibility of government, employers, civil society, and communities working together,” he further noted, hailing the Coordinated Action on Disabilities in Liberia (CAD-L Project” for being instrumental in laying the groundwork for this Roadmap,” the Labor Minister stressed.

“I wish to commend the Swedish Government, represented by the Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia and generously support through the Swedish international Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), for the partnership and unwavering support in this journey. Their commitment has reinforced Liberia’s strides towards promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and ensuring that no-one left behind in the world of work.”

Also speaking at the launch was Acting President General of the Liberia Labor Congress (LLC) who said the Roadmap is aimed to provide an inclusive space for persons living with disabilities suitable environment at workplaces.

She said it is developed as a guiding framework to advance inclusion, strengthen policy and institutional mechanisms, promote capacity development, foster partnerships and monitor its implementation among government, civil society, private sector, and international stakeholders.

For his part, the Executive Director of the National Commission on Disability, Mr. Samuel Dean lauded Minister Cooper W, Kruah for services provided some members of Commission during the vacation job program.

He underscored the need to have programs and initiatives to provide platforms for persons living with disabilities for employment in private and public sectors. He also called for continuous collaboration to fulfill the Roadmap.

In brief remarks, the Chief of Party of AIFO, Madam Laura Todescato said the Roadmap is a tripartite arrangement set up five years ago.

She disclosed that it’s summarized in five areas, namely: Accessibility, Public Finance, Training, Education, and Awareness/Advocacy and Employment, adding: “These are steps the government of Liberia should consider in addressing issues affecting persons living with disabilities.