It is visible that Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah is working diligently around the clock to ensure that labor matters are appropriately handled with professionalism, which many Liberians are hailing him. Howbeit, on the contrary, Senator Darius Dillion of Montserrado County is persistently calling for an investigation of an alleged 8,000 work permits issued to aliens and foreign workers, something which is being vehemently trashed by some citizens as they described the matter being raised by the senator in question as an upright witch- hunt; our Staff Writer Paul Bordoe reports.
In recent times, what appears to be a complete misunderstanding and disinformation about the issuance of eight thousand work permits to aliens and foreign nationals by the Labor Ministry has taken the front pages of the dailies and airwaves in Liberia.
The Minister of Labor, Counsellor Cooper W. Kruah on one or two occasions has been invited to the Liberian Senate to answer to questions as to why aliens and foreign national are occupying key positions following the alleged issuance of some eight thousand work permits.
Upon the House of Senate’s invite, the honorable Minister of Labor then informed that august body that his Ministry did not issue eight thousand work permits as being insinuated by his detractors, but rather did renewal of the alien and foreign workers work permits, a situation which he (the latter) was given an additional two weeks to bring forth documents to prove to the body about job descriptions as well as permits that has been issued since becoming head of the institution.
Minister Kruah and team complied and swiftly presented to the Labor Committee at the House of Senate said documentary evidence as requested for by the committee which Senator Dillion is a member of.
Labor Ministry boss, however, informed the Committee on Labor at the Liberian Senate that, according to the 1958 International Labor Organization (ILO) Treaty 111 signed which Liberia is a part, does gives her no exclusive rights for jobs.
According to curious the observers, there is something which the Montserrado County Senator, Darius Dillion, seems to be somewhat skeptical about which is explicit that he cannot unveil to the public. Therefore, observers are pondering as to whether Senator Dillion’s repeated stance on the alleged issuance of 8,000 work permits to aliens and foreign workers is not a witch- hunt or patriotism.
On the contrary, several citizens as well as some members of the House of Senate are now questioning the curiosity of Senator Dillion. His (Senator Dillion’s) move has raised eyebrows in the public glare as to whether the matters at hand, surrounding the alleged 8,000 work permits, is being personalized by the senator.
One Senator who commended Labor Minister Cooper W. Kruah for the splendid job that he is doing since his ascendancy as head of the ministry, is Crayton Duncan of Sinoe County.
The Sinoe County parliamentarian said if Senator Dillion wants the Ministry of Labor which forms part of government’s revenue generating arm to stop the issuance of work permits to aliens and foreign nationals, then the government should exonerate the Ministry from making contribution to the Liberian Revenue Authority(LTA), stressing that he sees no reason for which Senator Dillon is pressing hard on this matter.
Also speaking on the matter was Senator Albert Chie of Grand Kru County who remarked: “Senator Dillion should relax the matter because Minister Kruah is working industriously on Labor issues in the country to the benefit of the government and Liberian workforce.
He said lamented that many Liberians who are being employed at various concessions are most times are not impressive on the job; therefore, it is expedient that foreigners are employed when they meet the requisite requirements for employment alongside qualified Liberians.
Several Liberians who preferred anonymity when they spoke the Eyes of the Globe as the paper went to press, said Senator Dillion may have something under his sleeves for which he is creating such a situation for the Minister who they see as one of the best in the public servants in Boakai-led Government together with his workaholic team at the Ministry of Labor who are giving a boost to revenue generation and the national economy under the ARREST Agenda.
The citizens are calling on Senator Darius Dillion to leave Minister Kruah alone to do the people’s job which he was nominated and appointed by the First-In-Command of the Republic of Liberia, President Joseph Boakai to do whose preferment he currently enjoys. It can be recalled that Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah in an exclusive interview with this paper, told Journalists that the issue of work permits at the Labor Ministry was inherited; therefore, they were obliged to do renewal in the interest of the state, which in no way should be misconstrue by detractors as a fraudulent act.
