By Augustine Octavius
The Liberia Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with the Liberian government and International Labor Organization have officially launched training on the employers’ guide in the industrial sector.
The Employers Guide on Industrial Relations in Liberia was launched at a well attended ceremony held at the conference room of the Liberia Chambers of Commerce in Monrovia Tuesday.
The employers’ guide is a 97 page documents highlighting the obligations and rights of employers and employees under the Labor Act.
Speaking during the launching ceremony, Commerce and Industry Minister, Wilson Tarpeh said: “we as a government considers the employers, employees and the government as the focal for this economy to make progress.”
“We as a government is just trying to lay the rule of the engagement and this is an effort aimed at raining the standard of the living conditions of the people and investors so that their earnings can be acceptable,” he said.
According to Minister Tarpeh, this is the only way in which the investments of the business community can strive and it is part of the government to promote the private sector
The Commerce and Industry Minister congratulated the Liberia Chambers of Commerce, the International Labor Organization and the Liberia Labor Congress for publishing the Employers’ Guide.
In remarks, the Employers Activities Specialists at the International Labor Organization Dakar Office, Senegal, Julie Kazaqui said the publication of the Employers Guide on Industrial Relations in Liberia is intended to serve as a handbook for employers in the country.
She cautioned employers to use the guide as a reference in making decision in the industrial sector especially when it involves employees.
Commenting on the training, Madam Kazaqui pointed out that the four-day deliberation will enable the Liberia Chambers of Commerce to set up small cells to train others.
Speaking on behalf of the Liberia Chambers of Commerce , a member of the executive committee, Charles Collins, said the training is intended to train others about the significance of the employers’ guide.
He welcomed the publication of the employers’ guide and promised to have it distributed among the employers throughout the country.
“We will use the employers guide as a yard stick in interacting with people who are our employees and those representing the government.”
For his part, the Deputy Labor Minister for Human Resource and Manpower Development, Phil Dixon, who spoke on behalf Labor Minister Moses Kollie, said this year, the Ministry of Labor is working with the aim at strengthening employers in the country.
According to him , the National Tripartite Council has been formed and the first meeting is due to take place in Monrovia soon.
The Liberia Labor Congress was represented by its Deputy Secretary General for Operation, Ophelia Carpenter, thanked the LCC, the ILO and the Labor Ministry for establishing the employers guide.
The program was graced by a cross session of people from the Liberia Business Association, the Liberia Labor Congress, among others.