By: Alfred Kollie
Renowned Liberian Human Rights Activist, Lawyer Samuel Kofi Woods II, says workers or employees in Liberia continue to suffer the wrath of poverty and abuse as a result of failed workers union in the country.
Woods was speaking on Sunday at the installation of officials elect of the Liberia Federations of Labor Union in Monrovia.
Woods, who once served as Labour Minister in the regime of outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said workers or employees remain one of the most downtrodden, paid less and made to work under slave-like conditions and often do not have the voice in decision that affect them at work places in the country.
‘’This is why we insisted on the need to review our labor laws and provide decency in the work place,, the human rights lawyer noted.
He said workers can only achieve their goal through social dialogue among workers, government and employees whom he said will serve as practical vehicle for progress.
According to him,’’ on the economic front, people depend on the work to fulfill their need for income to better their lives and the lives of their facilities, to escape poverty, ignorance and disease, enjoy recreation and achieve status’’.
‘’We cannot have the force and effect necessary to transform the sector and make workers proud if we do not unite and organize’’ he explained.
The human rights lawyer said no government however responsive, no minister however patriotic can offer the dignity the union deserve noting that it is organizing and building institutions larger than self and ego that can provide the freedom and dignity they deserve.
He said until unions organize themselves and focuses on building strong union federations and strong solidarities, the real potentials cannot be realized in the country.
‘’It is only when we organize that we are able to build power and to change our conditions’’ the human right lawyer tells workers union at the program.
‘’The primary motivation of employees in operating their businesses or firms is to maximize profits, and to do so, they are inclined to want to spend less on labor cost, on safety and healthcare ETC ‘’ Cllr. Woods said.
Cllr. Woods believed that when workers stand alone and approach their employer as individuals they are less likely to achieve what they want and the employer succeeds.
He wants the unions engage in collective bargaining, to strike or to engage in other forms of mutual aid and consequently will not be able to get economic and social benefits.
He said as civil society organizations, labor unions can play a very important role in attacking the inequalities, crime and corruption that have sadly taken over the country today.
Human Rights Activist and former Minister of Labor, Atty. Samuel Kofi Woods, has said that Liberia’s democracy is still vulnerable and constantly threatened by leadership deficits which have plagued the nation.