PHOTO: Edwin Cisco, LLC Sec. General
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Liberia Labor Congress has rejected the appointment of Theresa Viskinda as the representative of workers to the Minimum Wage Board by President George Weah.
LLC Secretary General, Edwin Cisco has called on President Weah to rescind his decision on the appointment of Theresa Viskinda as the representative of workers to the Minimum Wage Board because she does not representative workers in Liberia.
Addressing a press conference over the weekend, Mr. Cisco said the recommendation of Madam Viskinda was made solely by Labor Minister, Charles Gibson without consultation with the Liberia Labor Congress, which is the national organization representing workers in the country.
The LCC Secretary General pointed out that workers are pawns to be used and tossed about at will and pleasure of an appointed politician.
But the Labour Ministry has not yet reacted to the claims of the LLC’s Secretary General.
According to Mr. Cisco, Madam Viskinda is not a representative of workers on the Minimum Wage Board and as such any decision reached at the board will never be accepted by workers in Liberia.
He explained that the Labor Ministry unilaterally designate workers delegates to the International Labor Organization 110th session held in Geneva, Switzerland and his singlehandedly recommending of Madam Viskinda for appointment to the minimum wage by President Weah are flagrant disregard and key indicators of workers disregard for workers in the country.
“We are interested in maintaining the dignity, respect and a fair share of benefits for our labor,” he said; adding: “ we are opposed to the government insinuating and considering us as a political partisans through rendering divisive and discriminatory policies and laws that deny the vast majority of the workforce from the folds of the LLC.”
“Therefore, we are categorically clear that Madam Theresa Viskinda is not a representatives of Liberia Labor Congress in the national minimum wage board as she is merely representing the vested and personal interest of the Labor Ministry.”
According to him, Liberia as a member of the international community and cannot be seen to be acting in ways that negate known international laws and statues especially those it is signatory to.
The LLC is claiming that there are frequent violations and labor rights abuses.
The Liberia Labor Congress is therefore, inviting the president and secretaries of all the affiliates to a meeting slated for the 14th of July mainly to discuss and strategize so as to determine the next steps in advancing and protecting the rights of workers in Liberia.