Over A Week After Senate Plenary Grilled Him For Issuing 8,000 Work Permits To Foreigners Without Disclosing Categories Of Jobs
PHOTO: Minister Cooper Kruah in photo with employees at Aqua Life
By Augustine Octavius, augustineocatavius@gmail.com
Labor Minister, Cooper Kruah has paid an official working visit to Liberty Investment Company, the parent entity of Aqua Life Mineral Water.
The visit formed part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to assess working conditions and promote fair labor practices across the country, and his visit comes over a week after he was grilled by the Senate plenary about failing to say the various categories of jobs on 8,000 work permits issued to foreigners recently.
During the visit, Minister Kruah engaged with more than 72 employees currently working at the facility.
In his interaction with both the workers and management, he emphasized the importance of transitioning long-serving employees—particularly those who have been with the company for over two years—into permanent employment status.
He also urged the management to consider increasing salaries above the national minimum wage of USD 143, noting that fair compensation is critical to employee morale and productivity.
The labor minister further recommended that workers employed on a daily hire basis be upgraded to contractual or permanent employment status.
He also called on the management to improve workers’ welfare by constructing a staff canteen and providing transportation, especially for employees working late-night shifts.
In response, representatives of Aqua Life acknowledged the Minister’s recommendations.
The company, which has invested approximately USD 60 million in the production of mineral water and soft drinks, expressed a willingness to enhance its operational and labor standards.
Aqua Life currently employs over 200 Liberians, with 98% of the workforce earning approximately USD 149 monthly.
Some employees used the opportunity to appeal to the government, through the National Legislature, to revisit and revise the national minimum wage.
They proposed an increase from USD 143 to at least USD 500, arguing that such an adjustment would enable workers to build homes and adequately provide for their families.
Minister Kruah praised the dedication of the employees and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring labor rights are protected, salaries are fair, and working environments are conducive across all sectors.