MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Ministry of Labor has announced the start of a joint-nationwide labor inspection.

Labor Minister Moses Kollie told a joint press conference on Monday that the month-long exercise would focus on compliance with labor regulations, including alien work permits. He said the team comprises of personnel from the Liberia Immigration Service and the Liberia Revenue Authority.

Upon officially taking over as minister on February 13, Kollie had promised that his administration would vigorously implement the Decent Work Act of 2015, to ensure full compliance.

At the launch of the nationwide inspection, he said the partnership with LIS and LRA is to help the ministry succeed in generating revenue for the government. He called on employers to cooperate with the joint team of inspectors.

The minister also disclosed that Labor Ministry personnel had been trained to detect any act of fraud in employers’ declaration during the exercise.

He said the joint inspection would last for one month, but that the ministry would continue to occasionally inspect businesses afterward. Kolie also noted that all non-Liberians are to renew their work permits after every 12 months and anyone or entity failing to do so would be fined US$2,000, along with the US$1,000 fees required for work permits.

“Let me encourage all Liberian that the days employers say the government is in their pockets are no more,” he said. “We have a team now at the ministry that is well and prepared to handle your issues and complaints.”

The ministry had requested employers to update the status of their alien employees and make full disclosure on all alien employees within their workplaces up to March 31.

It warned that noncompliance with the mandate would be a serious violation of the Labor Law and would be dealt with in keeping with the laws of the Republic.

According to the authorities, the inspection would take place simultaneously across the country, as the country has been divided into zones.

LRA’s Commissioner General Elfrieda Tamba disclosed that while the authority would encourage voluntary compliance, it is at the same time prepared to enforce compliance.

“Our message is, please voluntarily comply,” Tamba said.

At the same time, the commissioner general for LIS, Lemuel Reeves, assured that the exercise would be well monitored to ensure transparency and accountability.

Gbatemah Senah contributed to this article. Featured photo by Mafanta Kromah