Yekepa, Nimba County—The Ministry of Labor has nabbed about 310 Indian nationals employed by AFCONS, a subcontractor for ArcelorMittal in Yekepa, Nimba County, without work permits.
By: Yawah Y. Jaivey, contributing writer
The latest discovery on Tuesday at the mining site is part of the Labor Ministry’s ongoing nationwide inspection exercise intended to assess the country’s labor sector aimed at maintaining the integrity of Liberia’s labor laws and protecting the interests of both domestic and foreign workers within the country.
Darius K. Weamie, Deputy Labor Inspector, leading the nationwide labor inspection, said the Ministry of Labor’s swift action in apprehending the Indian nationals underscores the government’s stance on enforcing labor regulations in the country.
By holding AFCONS accountable for hiring employees without valid permits, he said, Liberia’s aim is to send a clear message that all companies operating within its borders must adhere to the law and respect local labor standards.
Mr. Weamie told FrontPage Africa that following the investigation, the Ministry imposed substantial fines of US$930,000 in accordance with Regulation 17 of the Revised Section 4 (b) of the Labor Laws of Liberia.
At the same time, the Deputy Labor Inspector General of Liberia has disclosed that the management of AFCONS has been mandated to pay a compulsory amount of US$310,000 into the government revenue to immediately obtain work permits for their 310 workers.
Section 45.1 (a) of the 2015 Decent Work Act states: “An employer shall not employ foreign workers unless they possess a current work permit issued by the Ministry/Minister.”
“The enforcement of our labor laws is crucial for ensuring fair treatment and legal compliance in all employment practices. We will continue to uphold these standards to foster a lawful and equitable working environment in Liberia,” Deputy Inspector General Weamie said.
Mr. Weamie noted that it was surprising to discover that AFCONS had hired a large number of Indian workers without obtaining the necessary work permits from the Liberian government, adding that this violation not only contravenes local labor regulations but also raises concerns about compliance with immigration laws designed to safeguard employment opportunities for Liberian citizens.
Meanwhile, Liberia, like many countries, requires foreign nationals to obtain work permits before they can be legally employed within its jurisdiction. These permits are intended to regulate the influx of foreign workers and to ensure that job opportunities are prioritized for local residents, thus contributing to the country’s economic development and stability.
