CSA Unearths Work Permit Bonanza at MoL -Tells Senate Liberianization Policy Grossly Ignored -Over 7,000 Jobs Went to Foreigners in 2024 Alone

MONROVIA: While Liberians, mainly young people, wear out their shoe heels walking their way here and there in search of jobs, some dropping applications like an old Kru lady randomly setting fish-baskets in a creek, even where there is no sign for vacancy, the Ministry of Labor under Minister Cooper Kruah in 2024 dished out a whopping 7,032 jobs to foreign nationals rather impetuously; courtesy of the Civil Service Agency report on what many are now calling ‘foreign work permit-gate’. As THE ANALYST reports, CSA Director Josiah F. Joekai, Jr. yesterday appeared before the “House of Elders”, the Senate, where he revealed that the Ministry of Labor was in gross violation of the Decent Work Act and the so-called Liberianization Policy, and therefore recommended a revocation of the permits and the setting up of a special task force the rationalize the prevailing situation as the Ministry.  

In a startling revelation before the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, Civil Service Agency (CSA) Director General Josiah F. Jokai disclosed that the Ministry of Labor has granted over 7,000 work permits to foreign nationals for jobs that, by law, are reserved for Liberian citizens.

The CSA’s analysis shows that 7,032 work permits were issued to foreigners, including 6,156 regular permits, 314 under the ECOWAS protocol, and 562 categorized as GRATIS—something that CSA boss described as a clear violation of the nation’s labor laws, particularly the Decent Work Act of 2015.

“This is not just a bureaucratic misstep; this is an outright betrayal of the Liberian people,” said Director Joekai during his presentation to the Senate. “Thousands of qualified, unemployed Liberians are being sidelined in favor of foreigners, often for positions that require no unique skills or international expertise.”

The jobs in question are supposed to be “Reserved for Liberian Nationals”, a category intended to protect local employment in a country where the unemployment rate remains alarmingly high.

According to Mr. Joekai, the decision to issue these permits without proper vetting undermines the very foundation of Liberia’s workforce policies.

“When 69.5% of all work permits go to foreigners for positions meant for Liberians, we are not just bending the rules we are breaking the backs of our own people,” he emphasized.

The CSA report raises serious concerns about the Ministry of Labor’s process for determining when “no suitably qualified Liberian is available” for a job—a key legal requirement before any permit can be issued to a foreign national.

“There is no credible evidence to suggest that adequate recruitment efforts were made locally,” Joekai told lawmakers. “We must demand accountability and a rigorous review of every single permit granted under these circumstances.”

To address these lapses, Joekai recommended the immediate formation of a Joint Task Force with full authority to Review all work permits issued for reserved jobs; to investigate potential non-compliance and apply punitive measures where necessary.

He also recommended that employers are made to prove local recruitment efforts before applying for foreign permits, and that those permits found to be in violation of the law must be revoked.

He also called for aggressive investments in vocational training and higher education linkages to prepare Liberians for high-demand roles currently being outsourced.

 “This is not about xenophobia—it’s about justice, equity, and national development,” said Joekai. “We welcome foreign expertise, but not at the expense of our people’s right to earn a living in their own land.”

The CSA’s findings have sparked a renewed call for the Senate to act swiftly and decisively.

“Failure to correct this path will only deepen the unemployment crisis and erode the public’s trust in our institutions,” Joekai warned. “We have a moral and constitutional duty to put Liberians first.”

As the Senate deliberates on the report, the nation watches closely, as thousands of unemployed Liberians languished about.

“There is no credible evidence to suggest that adequate recruitment efforts were made locally,” Jokai told lawmakers. “We must demand accountability and a rigorous review of every single permit granted under these circumstances.”

To address these lapses, Jokai recommended the immediate formation of a Joint Task Force with full authority to Review all work permits issued for reserved jobs; Investigate potential non-compliance and apply punitive measures where necessary; Require employers to prove local recruitment efforts before applying for foreign permits; Revoke any permits found to be in violation of the law.

He also called for aggressive investments in vocational training and higher education linkages to prepare Liberians for high-demand roles currently being outsourced.

 “This is not about xenophobia—it’s about justice, equity, and national development,” said Joekai. “We welcome foreign expertise, but not at the expense of our people’s right to earn a living in their own land.”

The CSA’s findings have sparked a renewed call for the Senate to act swiftly and decisively.

“Failure to correct this path will only deepen the unemployment crisis and erode the public’s trust in our institutions,” Jokai warned. “We have a moral and constitutional duty to put Liberians first.”

As the Senate deliberates on the report, the nation watches closely. For the thousands of unemployed Liberians, this moment represents not just a policy debate—but a fight for survival and dignity.

The full report submitted to the Liberian Senate provide an in-depth analysis of the issuance of work permits to foreign nationals in Liberia, evaluating the current practices against the foundational principles and specific provisions of the Decent Work Act (DWA) of 2015, particularly Chapters 45.1 and 45.5, which underscore the paramount importance of prioritizing Liberian citizens for employment opportunities. It also identified areas of non-compliance, assess the implications for the Liberian labor market, and propose actionable recommendations to foster a more equitable and sustainable employment landscape for our citizens.

The report covered from January to December 2024. During the year, four months particularly stand out when the Ministry gave out more jobs. April recorded 1,289 permits, May 1,255 jobs, October and December 1,406 and 1,049 respectively.

Chapter 45.1(c) states that the Ministry of Labor shall not issue a permit to work in Liberia unless it is satisfied that there is no suitably qualified Liberian available to carry out the work required by the employer.

According to the CSA report, the provision establishes the principle of Liberianization within the labor market. It mandates that the Ministry of Labor thoroughly assess the availability of qualified Liberian nationals for any given role before authorizing the employment of a foreign worker –  intended to protect and promote local employment, preventing displacement and fostering the development of indigenous (home-grown, local/domestic) skills.

While it is expected that foreign nationals will fill some roles  due to genuine skill gaps or strategic leadership requirements, the CSA said continuous monitoring is necessary to ensure that these positions are not used as a loophole to circumvent the employment of qualified Liberians.

“The proportion of GRATIS permits in this category for NGOs suggests a recognition of the specialized nature of some humanitarian work,” Joekai said further in the report.

According to him, the issuance of 7,032 work permits for jobs reserved for Liberians directly undermines the Ministry of Labor’s statutory obligation under Chapter 45.1(c) of the Decent Work Act. This suggests that the process for determining the unavailability of suitably qualified Liberians may be insufficient or inadequately enforced.

“A sustained influx of foreign labor into sectors where Liberian skills are available is exacerbating unemployment and underemployment rates among the local population. This not only impacts individual livelihoods but also constrains national economic development by limiting the full utilization of the domestic workforce,” the CSA said in the report to the Senate.

“If employers can easily secure work permits for foreign nationals for jobs that Liberians could perform, there is less incentive for businesses to invest in training and developing local talent. This creates a cycle of dependency on foreign labor rather than building a robust and self-reliant Liberian workforce.”