Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Liberia (Ratification: 2003)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Articles 2 and 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in response to its previous comments initially made in 2015. The Government reports that the National Tripartite Council (NTC) was reconstituted in 2018 to include nine members, divided equally among the tripartite partners. The NTC is presided over by the Minister of Labour. The Government indicates that tripartite consultation has embraced diverse matters that include implementation of the Decent Work Act, harmonization of the national labour laws and pandemic safety measures for the workplace. It adds that NTC meetings are convened when issues arise, but are held at least twice per year. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that one of the key achievements of the NTC was the determination of a salary payment of 50 per cent for non-essential or other staff who were required to remain home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Noting the Government’s response concerning the frequency of consultations since 2018, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters relating to international labour standards covered by Article 5(1)(a) through (e) of the Convention, including information as to the nature of any reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations held.

Article 5(1)(b). Submission to the National Legislature. The Government reports that, while the NTC has begun discussions on the various Conventions referenced by the Committee in its previous comments, the pandemic has adversely affected the space on the legislative agenda for many matters. Noting that the Government’s report provides no information with respect to tripartite consultations held on proposals to be made to the National Legislature in connection with the submission of 21 instruments adopted by the International Labour Conference, the Committee reiterates its request that the Government provide information on the effective tripartite consultations held with regard to the submission to the National Legislature of the 17 Conventions and Recommendations adopted by the Conference between 2000 and 2014, as well as the Protocols adopted in 1990, 1995, 2002 and 2014. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide information regarding the tripartite consultations held in relation to the four Conventions and Recommendations adopted by the Conference between 2015 and 2019.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

The Committee notes with concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Article 5(1) of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Government indicates in its report that the Ministry of Labour has been working with the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and Liberia Labour Congress in maintaining a smooth and peaceful work environment. In reply to previous comments, the Government further indicates that the procedures provided for in the Convention regarding consultations can be found in section 4607 of the Labour Act. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters relating to international labour standards covered by the Convention, including information as to the nature of any reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations. Please also include information as to the frequency of such consultations (Article 5(2)).

Article 5(1)(b). Submission to the National Legislature. The Committee notes that no information was received on the tripartite consultations held on the proposals to be made to the National Legislature in connection with the submission of 21 instruments adopted by the International Labour Conference. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the effective tripartite consultations held with regard to the submission to the National Legislature of the 17 remaining Conventions and Recommendations adopted by the Conference between 2000 and 2014, as well as the 1990, 1995, 2002 and 2014 Protocols.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments.

Article 5(1) of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Government indicates in its report that the Ministry of Labour has been working with the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and Liberia Labour Congress in maintaining a smooth and peaceful work environment. In reply to previous comments, the Government further indicates that the procedures provided for in the Convention regarding consultations can be found in section 4607 of the Labour Act. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters relating to international labour standards covered by the Convention, including information as to the nature of any reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations. Please also include information as to the frequency of such consultations (Article 5(2)).

Article 5(1)(b). Submission to the National Legislature. The Committee notes that no information was received on the tripartite consultations held on the proposals to be made to the National Legislature in connection with the submission of 21 instruments adopted by the International Labour Conference. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the effective tripartite consultations held with regard to the submission to the National Legislature of the 17 remaining Conventions and Recommendations adopted by the Conference between 2000 and 2014, as well as the 1990, 1995, 2002 and 2014 Protocols.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments initially made in 2015.

Repetition

Article 5(1) of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Government indicates in its report that the Ministry of Labour has been working with the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and Liberia Labour Congress in maintaining a smooth and peaceful work environment. In reply to previous comments, the Government further indicates that the procedures provided for in the Convention regarding consultations can be found in section 4607 of the Labour Act. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters relating to international labour standards covered by the Convention, including information as to the nature of any reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations. Please also include information as to the frequency of such consultations (Article 5(2)).

Article 5(1)(b). Submission to the National Legislature. The Committee notes that no information was received on the tripartite consultations held on the proposals to be made to the National Legislature in connection with the submission of 21 instruments adopted by the International Labour Conference. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the effective tripartite consultations held with regard to the submission to the National Legislature of the 17 remaining Conventions and Recommendations adopted by the Conference between 2000 and 2014, as well as the 1990, 1995, 2002 and 2014 Protocols.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Article 5(1) of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Government indicates in its report that the Ministry of Labour has been working with the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and Liberia Labour Congress in maintaining a smooth and peaceful work environment. In reply to previous comments, the Government further indicates that the procedures provided for in the Convention regarding consultations can be found in section 4607 of the Labour Act. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters relating to international labour standards covered by the Convention, including information as to the nature of any reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations. Please also include information as to the frequency of such consultations (Article 5(2)).

Article 5(1)(b). Submission to the National Legislature. The Committee notes that no information was received on the tripartite consultations held on the proposals to be made to the National Legislature in connection with the submission of 21 instruments adopted by the International Labour Conference. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the effective tripartite consultations held with regard to the submission to the National Legislature of the 17 remaining Conventions and Recommendations adopted by the Conference between 2000 and 2014, as well as the 1990, 1995, 2002 and 2014 Protocols.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Consultations required by the Convention. Training. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in May 2012 in reply to its 2011 direct request. The Government indicates that the National Tripartite Committee (NTC) meets periodically to discuss issues covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention. It further indicates that all members of the NTC have benefited from trainings provided by partner institutions, such as the ILO (Article 4(2)) of the Convention. The Government reports that the activities of the NTC have been decentralized by setting up regional offices in the four subdivisions of Liberia. A national secretariat was established to run the NTC regular affairs. For instance, based on a direct request from the Committee of Experts to provide information on the allegation of forced labour in the south eastern counties of Liberia, a tripartite delegation was dispatched to those counties to investigate said allegation. The delegation’s reports and recommendations were submitted to the Ministry of Labour. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report detailed information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters relating to international labour standards covered by Article 5(1), including information as to the nature of any reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Consultations required by the Convention. Representatives of the social partners. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in May 2011 in reply to its 2010 observation. It notes that the National Tripartite Committee (NTC) is composed of nine members equally represented by the Government, the Liberia Labour Congress and the Liberia Chamber of Commerce. All representatives of social partners are freely and openly elected in the NTC without interference from the Government. The Government indicates that, as a result of consultations within the NTC, the Decent Work Bill is before the House of Representatives for approval, three regional NTC offices have been established, employers have adhered to collective bargaining, and there is a peaceful coexistence between employers and workers. The Government further indicates that the NTC meets every three months. The Committee recalls its 2010 comments in which it requested the Government to provide information on the consultations held on the matters covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention. It notes that according to the Government’s report no consultations appear to have been carried out regarding international labour standards. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide in its next report information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters relating to international labour standards covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention, including information as to the nature of any reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations.

Financing of training. The Government indicates that the recommendations made as a result of tripartite consultations within the NTC concerned, among others, the urgency of training and capacity building for social partners and the support for regional NTC offices. The ILO supported capacity building for social partners through the organization of conferences and workshops. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on arrangements made for the financing of any necessary training of participants in the consultative procedures on international labour standards covered by the Convention (Article 4(2)).

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government’s report received in May 2010 does not reply to its 2009 direct request. The Committee recalls that consultations required under the Convention are conducted in the context of the National Tripartite Committee which was established in June 2008 following the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding among the social partners for the implementation of the Convention. It invites the Government to provide detailed information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters relating to international labour standards covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention, including information as to the frequency of such consultations and the nature of any reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations.

Representatives of employers and workers. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the manner in which it ensures that the representatives of the Liberia Labour Congress and the Liberia Chamber of Commerce are freely chosen by their representative organizations, and how it ensures that employers and workers are represented on an equal footing on the National Tripartite Committee.

Financing of training. The Committee recalls that the National Tripartite Committee was in dire need of training to improve the capacity-building needs of the social partners. The Committee invites the Government to report on the arrangements made, possibly with ILO assistance, for the financing of any necessary training of participants in the consultation procedures on international labour standards covered by the Convention (Article 4(2)).

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2011.]

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention provided in May 2009. The Committee notes with interest that consultations required under the Convention are conducted in the context of the National Tripartite Committee which was established in June 2008 following the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding among the social partners for the implementation of the Convention. The Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters relating to international labour standards covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention, including information as to the frequency of such consultations and the nature of any reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations.

Representatives of employers and workers. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on the manner in which it ensures that the representatives of the Liberia Labour Congress and the Liberia Chamber of Commerce are freely chosen by their representative organizations, and how it ensures that employers and workers are represented on an equal footing on the National Tripartite Committee.

Financing of training. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a series of consultations have been held on the capacity-building needs of social partners. The Government indicates that, as a newly established body, the National Tripartite Committee is in dire need of training to improve the skills of its members to perform to standard. The Committee notes that the ILO contributed to the popular convention held in May 2008 to merge the original labour centres in Liberia. The Committee hopes that the Government will report on the arrangements made, possibly with ILO assistance, for the financing of any necessary training of participants in the consultation procedures on international labour standards covered by the Convention (Article 4(2)).

 

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Tripartite consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes the information contained in a communication received in May 2008 indicating that the Government has been encouraging the social partners to set up a tripartite committee for the purpose of strengthening social dialogue. In September 2007, the social partners concluded a Memorandum of Understanding to constitute a National Tripartite Committee. The establishment of the National Tripartite Committee could not progress due to the merger process of the unions, however the process will resume after June 2008. The Committee recalls the importance of first reports in enabling it to undertake its examination of the application of ratified Conventions. It requests the Government to make a special effort when preparing its report on the application of Convention No. 144 and to provide, in respect of each provision of the Convention, all the information required by the report form. It would therefore appreciate receiving details of the consultations held by the National Tripartite Committee on the matters set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, including the nature of the recommendations made as a result of the consultations.