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MONROVIA – Labor Minister, Tiawon Gongloe, who has the statutory responsibility over the country’s labor sector and related activities on behalf of the Government of Liberia as prescribed by a 1981 Act of the National Legislature, says his ministry has the legal mandate to increase alien work permit fees without the involvement of the Legislature.

The Labor Ministry, whose responsibility includes policy development and coordination, regulating and monitoring of labor practices, enforcement of labor laws and the promotion of best practices, maintains that the Legislature, which is responsible for ‘making and amending laws’, does not have the legal right to halt the increase in the alien work permit fee.

According to a release issued by the Labor Ministry on Thursday, March 4, the alien work permit fee of US$1,000 remains unchanged. The ministry is urging all foreign workers to adhere to this regulation, in accordance with the Labor Practice Law of the Republic of Liberia.

“In accordance with Regulation 17, issued September 2009, the payment of work permit remains the same at US$1,000 instead of US$450, and aliens who seek employment in Liberia are advised to pay their work permit fees,” the release noted.

Gongloe further maintained that there is no violation of the Constitution concerning the increase in the fee and questioned the ability of the Legislature to interpret the law of the land.

The release also quoted the Labor Minister as having told UNMIL radio from Grand Gedeh County earlier this week that he did not violate the Constitution, and that if the Legislature has any qualms regarding the interpretation of law of the land, they should seek advice from the Temple of Justice instead of putting a halt to the payment of alien work permit fees.

The Joint Committee on Labor in the House of Representatives and Senate asserted that the Labor Ministry erred when it recently increased alien work permit fee from US$450 to US$1,000.

The lawmakers said the Ministry of Labor has arrogated onto itself the authority to increase work permit fees beyond the cap set by the Legislature.

Quoting Article 34 (d) of the Constitution, the lawmakers said the Constitution vested the right to raise revenue in the Legislature.

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