-Push for Minimum Wage Hike
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA – The House of Representatives has launched a dual-pronged legislative initiative, simultaneously ordering a deep dive into eight major oil contracts signed by President Joseph Boakai’s administration while also advancing a bill to increase the private sector minimum wage for the first time in a decade.
In a significant move that signals careful legislative oversight, the Plenary of the House has mandated a powerful joint committee to scrutinize eight new Oil Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs). These agreements, signed with international giants TotalEnergies and Oranto Petroleum, were submitted to the legislature for ratification on Tuesday, October 21.
The decision places the Boakai administration’s first major foray into the hydrocarbon sector under the microscope. The joint committee—comprising the committees on Hydrocarbon, Contracts and Monopolies, Investment and Concessions, and Judiciary—is tasked with reviewing the deals before advising the full House on ratification.
According to the submitted contracts, TotalEnergies EP Liberia LLC was awarded four offshore blocks: LB-06, LB-11, LB-17, and LB-29. Its counterpart, Oranto Petroleum Liberia Limited, was allocated another four blocks: LB-15, LB-16, LB-22, and LB-24. The review, led by Hon. Sam P. Jallah, Chairman of the Hydrocarbon Committee, will determine whether the terms of these agreements adequately protect Liberia’s national interest.
Parallel Push for Economic Equity
In a parallel session, the House demonstrated its focus on domestic economic concerns by fast-tracking a review of proposed amendments to the Decent Work Act of 2015. The Plenary has given a two-week deadline to the Committees on Good Governance, Labor, and Judiciary to review the “Private Sector Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2025.”
This legislative push originated from a formal communication by Montserrado County District #3 Representative, Hon. Sumo Mulbah. He petitioned the body to update the nation’s private sector wage structure, arguing that current rates are out of step with the economic realities facing Liberian workers.
“The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that wages within the private sector are fair, sustainable, and reflective of current economic realities—allowing workers to maintain a decent standard of living,” Rep. Mulbah stated. The amendment aims to align Liberia’s wage policies with international labor standards, specifically the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 131 on Minimum Wage Fixing, which mandates periodic reviews.
Proponents of the wage amendment argue that the changes are long overdue and would deliver tangible benefits, including:
* Improving the living standards and purchasing power for private sector workers.
* Reducing widespread income inequality and poverty rates.
* Strengthening social justice and economic stability.
* Enhancing productivity and national revenue growth through fair compensation.
The twin actions underscore the 55th Legislature’s ambitious agenda: to exercise rigorous oversight over high-stakes international agreements while addressing pressing socio-economic issues at home. The outcomes of the oil contract review and the minimum wage amendment will be closely watched as key indicators of the government’s direction on both foreign investment and domestic welfare.
