MOL frowns on illegal protests

The Ministry of Labour has observed with total dismay, the increase in the number of illegal actions by some employees and contractors at workplaces across the country in recent time. The ministry said these actions contravene provisions of the Decent Work Act of 2015.

The ministry said employees and their organizations should desist from such actions as the Ministry strives to improve the labor sector of the country by implementing the Decent Work Act of 2015.

In a release issued Sunday, the Ministry said such unlawful act on the part of workers and their organizations have the propensity to undermine industrial peace and harmony as well as, the national security of the Country.

The ministry further warned aggrieved workers to follow the procedures as spelled out in the 2015 Decent Work Act. Section 14.1 of the Decent Work Act of 2015 provides the “Right to strike or lockout” Sub-section 41.2, insists that “Every party to a dispute of interest has the right to strike or lockout if: i) the dispute has been referred in the prescribed form to the Ministry for conciliation in accordance with section 40.3; ii) the party has attended the conciliation meetings convened by the conciliator; iii) the dispute remains unresolved at the end of a period of 30 days from the date of the referral”.

The ministry said it wish to remind all workers and employers here that planning to embark on any strike actions, termination of employment contracts, redundancy and other Labour actions to do so conformity with the Country’s Labour law, which is the Decent Work Act of 2015.

The Labour Ministry notes however, that it is committed in protecting the rights of workers and employers throughout the country in line with the Decent Work act of 2015 and therefore calls on all stakeholders of the Labour sector to respect the laws.

The Decent Work Act of 2015 or the Labour Laws of Liberia, particularly the provisions on the protection of trade unions and employers’ rights provide clear means by which workplace issues can be resolved amicably and peacefully. “We will all be happy if we govern ourselves accordingly” the ministry said.