PHOTO: Cllr. Charles Gibson, Labour Min.
The Ministry of Labor has with immediate effect revoked the work permit of the twenty-five foreign workers and the denied applications of the twenty-nine of DEKO Mining Company operating in Grand Cape County.
Labor Minister Charles Gibson said that following the conclusion of its first phase of investigation into numerous allegation of the company’s process of acquiring work permits for its foreign workers through misrepresentation and fraud; thereby depriving many Liberians of the opportunity to apply for these vacancies as they obtained.
The ministry in a press statement said, that investigation revealed several evidence of foreign workers are driving trucks, operating forklifts, repairing tires, serving as fuel pump attendants for which the ministry is not aware of ever approving work permits for foreigners to work in these areas noted above.
The Labor Ministry said that it note and appreciate the company’s cooperation during the investigation by honest disclosure and explanation of some constraints faced the company and actions taken to avoid conflict with the local community in it operate.
“However, for the purpose of correction and deterrence, and to secure the interest of thousands of qualified Liberians who are unemployed, are constrained to take some drastic actions,” Cllr. Gibson said.
Regulation number 17 of the Ministry of Labor provides that where a work permit is acquired through misrepresentation or fraud the same should be revoked by the Minister of Labor.
The same Regulation also provides that where an employer is found utilizing the services of foreign workers within its employed without valid work permit, the employer should be fined 2,000.00 United States Dollars and the illegal employee fined 1,000.00 United States Dollars.
Accordingly, the work permit of 25 of your foreign workers, as per the attached list, is thereby revoked!
However, to avoid a shot down in ongoing operations and provide time for recruitment to them replaced by qualified Liberians, this revocation order shall become effective as of mid-night July 31, 2021.”
“Additionally, amongst your pending applications for works permits, twenty-nine foreigners to work as Mercedes Trainers are hereby denied.”
“You are advised to utilize the services of Liberian registered driving schools to train your truck works.” Report by Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com