The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has unveiled critical shortcomings in the Ministry of Labor’s issuance of work permits to foreign nationals in Liberia during 2024, raising serious concerns over weak enforcement of labor laws designed to protect Liberian workers.
The findings and analysis of the 2024 Alien Work Permit report: findings, implications, and recommendations were presented by CSA Director General Dr. Josiah Joekai before the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
“The primary mandate of our inquiry was to conduct an in-depth analysis of work permit issuance to foreign nationals, with a sharp focus on prioritizing Liberian citizens for employment and ensuring compliance with fair and lawful employment practices,” Dr. Joekai told the Senate. This mandate was issued by the Senate through the office of the President Pro Tempore.
Dr. Joekai detailed that the analysis centered on three key provisions of Liberia’s Decent Work Act of 2015, the principal legal framework guiding labor practices. Chapter 45.1 mandates that no foreign worker may be employed without a valid work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor.
Chapter 45.1C requires that work permits are only issued after it has been conclusively established that no suitably qualified Liberian is available for the position. Chapter 45.5 guarantees foreign workers equal labor rights without discrimination but underscores the need to protect Liberian workers’ priority.
Despite these provisions, the CSA’s analysis revealed troubling data. In 2024, the Ministry of Labor issued a total of 10,103 work permits to foreign nationals. Of these, 8,792 were regular work permits, primarily for long-term employment. Additionally, 438 ECOWAS permits were issued under regional protocols to citizens of the Economic Community of West African States, and 873 practice permits were granted mainly for humanitarian, non-profit, or government service roles.
However, a major finding showed that of the 7,032 permits issued for jobs that should have been reserved for Liberians, thousands were instead granted to foreigners, despite the availability of qualified Liberian professionals. For example, 6,156 regular permits were issued for jobs that the CSA confirmed could be filled by Liberians.
“We established that for over 6,000 positions, Liberians possess the skills, knowledge, and qualifications required,” Dr. Joekai emphasized. “Yet these jobs were occupied by foreign nationals, which is a clear violation of our laws and undermines national empowerment priorities.”
The report further identified the nationalities most frequently receiving work permits, with Indians leading at 4,625 permits, followed by Turks, Chinese, Lebanese, Zambians, South Africans, Nigerians, and Germans.
The highest number of foreign permits were granted to employers such as Bea Mountain (1,895 permits), ArcelorMittal (728), Liberia Telecommunications Authority (728), Betty Traylors, Sethi Brothers, and Duraplast.
Regarding job categories, engineers topped the list of foreign-held positions, including mechanical, electrical, and senior engineers, alongside managers, finance officers, and senior accountants.
In response to questions from senators, Dr. Joekai emphasized that this issue goes beyond legal compliance—it threatens Liberia’s national development strategy and its ability to combat youth unemployment.
“We are talking about a country where unemployment is high, and job scarcity is real,” he said. “Our young people are sitting idle with degrees in their hands while their jobs are being outsourced to foreigners who, in many cases, are less qualified.”
Senators expressed outrage over the report and pledged to hold the Ministry of Labor accountable. “This is unacceptable,” one senator remarked. “The Ministry must explain how this level of negligence was allowed to persist.”
Dr. Joekai clarified the Ministry of Labor’s legal obligation before issuing any work permit: “The Ministry must verify that the position has been advertised and that no qualified Liberian has applied or is available. This legal safeguard is meant to prioritize Liberian citizens.”
Yet, the report’s findings revealed systemic weaknesses in enforcement. “The lax application of these laws has led to a failure to protect Liberian labor market interests, and threatens our national development goals,” said Dr. Joekai.
He added that in the category of ECOWAS permits, 314 jobs should have been reserved for Liberians as qualified candidates exist, despite the regional protocols intended to balance rights between member states.
Additionally, 562 out of 873 practice permits were issued for jobs where qualified Liberians were available, further underscoring enforcement gaps.
The implications of these findings are profound. Dr. Joekai warned that continued weak enforcement threatens “a systemic failure to safeguard Liberian workers and will undermine the country’s economic empowerment.”
In conclusion, Dr. Joekai called on the Ministry of Labor and relevant stakeholders to strengthen regulatory oversight and fully implement the Decent Work Act to ensure Liberians are prioritized for employment opportunities in their own country.
“This report is not just a critique but a call to action,” he said. “We must protect our labor market and empower Liberians to take their rightful place in our workforce.”
