Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Labour Administration Convention, 1978 (No. 150) - Liberia (Ratification: 2003)

Legislation. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that a Decent Work Bill is currently before the House of Representatives for approval and that, once been enacted, it will cover all employees in the private sector. The Committee requests the Government to provide the ILO with a copy of the Act once it has been adopted.

Article 4 of the Convention. Organization and operation of the labour administration system and coordination of responsibilities. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, according to which the labour administration system is built on three pillars: labour inspection, the trade union division and labour relations. The labour inspectorate is responsible for inspecting workplaces and providing education to employers and employees on labour laws. The inspection system is centralized, although inspectors are assigned all over the country. Labour inspectors have to submit reports to the central authority. The trade union division deals with employers’ associations and trade unions and works on the basis of social dialogue. The labour relations division deals with violations of rights. In the counties, labour commissioners adjudicate cases, while this function is performed by hearing officers in Monrovia. Lastly, there are also commissions in the Ministry of Labour to ensure the implementation of ratified ILO Conventions, including a Child Labour Commission, the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, the HIV/AIDS Secretariat and the National Bureau of Employment. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide a copy of the updated organizational chart of the labour administration system, within the meaning of Article 1(b) of the Convention. It would also be grateful if it would provide a copy of the annual report of the Ministry of Labour.

Article 5. Consultation, cooperation and negotiation bodies. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the National Tripartite Committee was established on the basis of a memorandum of understanding concluded between the Liberia Labour Congress (LLC), the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Labour. It also notes that the National Minimum Wage Board commissioned a study in 2009 on the minimum wage in the private sector. Appropriate recommendations for the minimum wage were made in the context of this study, which was completed in 2011, and the Ministry is yet to consider its recommendations. The National Commission on Child Labour was established on the basis of a resolution deriving from a meeting which brought together employers, workers’ groups and civil society organizations. It is endeavouring to create the necessary awareness of child labour and is conducting training for child labour monitors. Since 2008, it has also started setting up child labour monitoring committees at workplaces, including rubber plantations and concession areas. It has carried out awareness raising activities and provided training for child labour monitors in mining and agricultural enterprises in several counties. The Commission has benefited from the assistance and support of the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO/IPEC) and the United States Department of Labor to strengthen its capacities although, according to the Government’s report, it has not been provided with budgetary support by the Government since its establishment in 2003, which makes it difficult to implement its mandate. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether measures have been adopted or are envisaged to provide financial support to the National Commission on Child Labour with a view to facilitating the implementation of its mandate. It also once again requests it to provide information on the issues addressed by the National Tripartite Committee and the results of its work, as well as a copy of the text establishing the National Minimum Wage Board and reports or extracts of reports on the work of the Board. The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would provide information on the measures taken to ensure consultation, cooperation and negotiation between the public authorities and organizations of employers and workers, or their representatives, at the regional and local levels, as provided for by this provision of the Convention.

Article 6(2)(a) and (b). National employment policy. Study and review of the situation of persons in relation to employment. The Committee notes with interest that a national employment policy has been developed with ILO assistance and that a national employment action plan was also developed and launched in July 2013. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the participation of the competent bodies in the preparation, administration, coordination, checking and review of the national policy (Article 6(2)(a)), and on studies of the situation of employed, unemployed and underemployed persons (Article 6(2)(b)).

Article 10. Training. Conditions of service. Human, material and financial resources. The Committee requests the Government to provide information, as detailed as possible on: (a) the staff of the Ministry of Labour and their distribution, composition, conditions of service and the training activities provided for them during their employment; and (b) the resources available to them for the performance of their duties.

Part VI of the report form. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the representative organizations of employers and workers to which copies of the Government’s report have been communicated.