Monrovia – Labour Minister Cooper Kruah has dismissed claims that the Ministry of Labour under President Joseph Boakai’s administration issued over 10,000 work permits to foreign nationals. Speaking during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing, Minister Kruah clarified that the majority of the permits were renewals granted by the previous government, not new issuances.
“We received 9,468 applications from regular workers, 948 from graphic-related sectors, and 558 from ECOWAS citizens. Out of these, 857 applications were denied, while 10,974 were processed in total. Of that number, 7,633 were renewals—constituting 75%—and only 2,486 were new permits issued under our administration,” he explained.
Minister Kruah emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing Liberian workers and promoting job creation. As part of these efforts, he noted that the Ministry has engaged with numerous companies operating across Liberia, urging them to employ more Liberians if they wish to continue doing business in the country.
He acknowledged, however, that the Ministry faces challenges in implementing this policy. “Most of the companies currently operating in Liberia began operations before the current administration took office,” Kruah noted. “Another significant challenge is the lack of experience among many Liberian workers, particularly in specialized fields. This has made it difficult to negotiate with investors, who often prefer to bring in skilled specialists from abroad.”
To address this, Kruah said the Ministry is working on long-term solutions, including education and on-the-job training programs aimed at equipping Liberians with the skills and experience required by these companies.
Despite the obstacles, the Minister reported significant progress in increasing the number of Liberian workers in key companies. He cited several examples:
Bea Mountain in Cape Mount increased its Liberian workforce from 2,766 in 2023 to 4,671 under the current administration.
Sethi Brothers saw an increase from 1,573 Liberian employees in 2023 to 2,386 by the end of 2024.
Metal Steel expanded its local workforce from 1,645 to 2,244.
Firestone Liberia grew from 4,827 Liberian workers to 5,232.
Minister Kruah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering Liberians through employment and skills development, stressing that these steps are crucial for sustainable growth and national development.
