Since the appointment of present administration at the Ministry of Labor headed by former Lofa County Representative Moses Kollie, a civil society group, Democratic Watch Forum (DWF), says it has observed that the wave of industrial unrest in the labor sector has tremendously reduced, and therefore praised the current leadership of the Ministry of Labor for ensuring peace and stability in the sector since the inception of the CDC-government.
The Forum, in a release issued Tuesday in Monrovia, said the Moses Kollie Administration has positioned the Ministry of Labor as one of the few government agencies that have demonstrated genuine commitment to sustaining the Pro-poor Agenda of President George Manneh Weah.
The group highlighted the achievement of the ministry in reducing confrontations and chaos in the labor sector by promoting dialogue and ensuring the application of the laws by both employers and employees.
DWF maintains that despite limited resources, the current leadership of the Labor Ministry has divided some of the counties into two parts, hired additional commissioners and deployed labor inspectors in the fifteen political sub-divisions of the country with a clear mandate to be responsive to labor matters, thus reducing tension and agitation at various work places.
The civil society group named some of the areas where the Labor Ministry has swiftly intervened and eased tension as the Firestone- Liberia Plantation, APM Terminals-Liberia, Mount Coffey Hydro Plant, CEMENCO, Sethi Brothers, Farmington Hotel, MNG Gold and the latest at Oporto Restaurant in Sinkor among others.
The Forum named another major achievement of the ministry as the hosting of the first National Labor Conference in November 2018, which brought together hundreds of participants, including the President of Liberia, H. E. George Manneh Weah, Special Representative of the International Labor Organization (ILO) trade union groupings, etc.
Labor Minister Moses Y. Kollie is on record for emphasizing that his leadership is committed to taking actions and implementing the provisions of the Decent Work Act and other policy measures that are in line with international conventions and protocols and the PAPD, which seeks to ensure a people-centered working atmosphere at all times.
DWF acknowledged that the CDC government’s continuous effort to put the interest of workers first in all sectors of the government, while facilitating good relationship between employers and employees and valuing the safety of the Liberian people above all other interests.
The civil society group hailed the robust and selfless performance of Minister Kollie and team in their quest to actualize the commitment made by President George Manneh Weah that “Liberians will no longer be spectators in their own economy, but will rather be given opportunities and empowered to play key roles in the development of their country”.
The group has meanwhile urged Minister Kollie not to be distracted but continue to justify the confidence reposed in him by President George Weah in order to ensure the President’s desire to reform policies that are creating serious labor challenges for the Liberian people; noting that the Labor Ministry, under Chief Kollie, has strengthened the hopes and aspirations of the Liberian people that the “change” promised by President Weah is guaranteed for all.
It can be recalled that the Democratic Watch Forum, in February 2018 welcomed the decision of President George Weah to appoint former Lofa County Representative Moses Y. Kollie as Liberia’s Labor Minister.
The DWF released signed by its Secretary General Sekou D. Sonii and approved by its Executive Chairman Anthony Wesseh stated that the appointment of Mr. Kollie further testifies to Pres. Weah’s desire to transform the labor sector of the country and ensure that government addresses disadvantages and other unfavorable conditions in the employment sector.
DWF stressed at the time, that Kollie, as founding member of the Civil Servants Association of Liberia and a major player himself in the agriculture sector, will be an efficient agent in furthering the President’s vision for Liberia, especially as it relates to the creation protection of jobs for Liberians.
The civil society group at that time also recalled the pivotal role played by the former lawmaker along with Mr. Jefferson Elliot and others in establishing the Civil Servants Association in the early 2000, an organization that championed the cause of civil servants and other government employees in the face of threats and intimidations.
DWF said Kollie has justified its conviction that he came to the job with vast understanding of the plights of workers and as such, he would continue to design and push the policies that would bring dignity and sanctity to the labor sector.
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