ILO Empowers Partners in Liberia For Effective ILS Reporting

Monrovia, Liberia (ILO News)- From 13th – 14th of August 2024, the Government of Liberia with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) organised a two-day training workshop to strengthen the capacity of national stakeholders towards ensuring timely compliance with the country’s reporting obligations to ILO’s Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR).

The workshop drew participation from the Government, employers and workers organizations, represented by Ministry of Labour (MOL), Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC) and Liberian Labour Congress (LLC) respectively, as well as other relevant national stakeholders, and targeted at reinforcing in-country capacity of ILO constituents towards preparation and submission of national reports to the CEACR. Liberia hopes to submit six reports in 2024 to the ILO, including two maiden reports on the Equal Remuneration Convention, C100 and the Minimum Age Convention, C138.

While delivering the welcome remarks on behalf of the Government, Mr. Steven S. Kolubah, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Labour (MOL) acknowledged the sustained collaboration and support of the ILO, as manifested in the prompt response to the request towards the organization of the workshop.
He stated that the Government was keen on addressing critical labour issues that were germane to the social dialogue situation and overall development of the country. He highlighted the commitment of the Government in playing its role towards meeting its reporting obligations to ILO supervisory bodies, believing that the training would enable Liberia to adopt a tailored approach for future reporting on International Labour Standards.

On her part, the Director of the ILO Country Office Abuja, Ms. Vanessa Phala appreciated the Government and people of Liberia for the warm reception the ILO has received through the years, especially during the last two missions where the organization undertook an assessment with a view towards understanding the social dialogue situation in the country earlier in the year. She acknowledged that Liberia has recently faced challenging times as it particularly relates to the social dialogue situation, which informed the Direct Contacts Mission in July 2024, with a further recognition of the role ILO constituents play as a fundamental one in ensuring that the working people of Liberia enjoyed decent working conditions.

She reiterated the continued support of the ILO towards engaging all relevant national stakeholders who have a role in resolving the current impasse, stating that a resolution to this situation lies in the hands of the national actors involved.

Legal and labour law specialists who facilitated the workshop included Ms. Ekpemi Nnamoko, Ms. Irini Proios Torras and Ms. Catherine Appave from ILO NORMES Department. Topics covered during the sessions included the ILO supervisory system, introduction/overview of ILO Conventions 100 and 138, and practical exercises in preparing for first reports on the afore-listed conventions.

At the end of the training, participants expressed their gratitude to the ILO, noting that the workshop presented a unique opportunity for stakeholders to gain better understanding of International Labour Standards, particularly as it relates to ILO Conventions Nos. C100 and C138.

ILO continues to provide support to the Government and social partners in Liberia, including through sustained technical assistance to meet reporting obligations.