The International Labor Organization (ILO) Country Director for English-Speaking West African States, Vanessa L. Phala, has emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of the Liberia Labor Congress (LLC), Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC) and other social partners to enable them to meaningfully contribute to issues affecting workers and employers in Liberia.
She said that it is a priority of the ILO to ensure that there are powerful, independent and effective tripartite partners (workers, employers and government) on the table to discuss issues relating to the labor sector.
She stated that her delegation has identified a roadmap for workers represented by the Liberia Labor Congress (LLC), and that they will begin to implement them with targeted interventions to help in building workers’ capacity.
Phala is the ILO Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and liaison officer for ECOWAS, with office based in Abuja, Nigeria.
Speaking with journalists at the end of her first visit to Liberia since taking over her new role, Phala said that during a meeting with the Minister of Labor and the Tripartite Council of Liberia (LLC, LCC and the Government of Liberia through Ministry of Labor) the Council presented priorities which are expected to be included in the Decent Work Country Program of Liberia. The Decent Work Country Program is the ILO Program of technical assistance to member states.
She noted that key priorities identified in the country’s program relate to youth employment, social protection and social dialogue. “Throughout our mission, and having met with other relevant ministries, development partners, Heads of UN Agencies in Liberia, as well as several other meetings held, the issue of youth employment came about. And I think for the ILO, from my observation, an organization that is charged with setting international labor standards it is important that we work, and continue working, with the Government of Liberia (GOL) through the Ministry of Labor to support the government in the domestication of the ILO conventions, that have been ratified by Liberia.”
Phala hailed Liberia for the ratification of all eight (8) Core Conventions or Fundamental Conventions of the ILO.
Speaking further on the employment, the ILO official maintained that employment is the center of the Decent Work Agenda of the ILO and, as such, working with the Ministry of Labor to establish opportunities for the creation of decent jobs, working through cooperative development agencies regarded as critical implementing partners, supporting entrepreneurship, women empowerment and poverty alleviation through cooperatives are key to the ILO. She added that the Decent Work Program creates opportunities for the ILO to provide technical assistance in a coordinated manner in bringing onboard other partners, and can also be used by the Ministry of Labor as a resource mobilization document to implement other aspects of the Decent Work Agenda in Liberia.
While in the country, Phala also met and held discussions with President George Manneh Weah, Speaker Bhofal Chambers and leadership of the House of Representatives, as well as with the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor.
“It was an honor to meet with the President, Speaker and Vice President of the Republic of Liberia. During our discussions with the Speaker and leadership of the Legislature, we discussed the role of the Legislature in the implementation of ILO programs in Liberia and they presented the processes leading to the ratification of the ILO Conventions.
The Vice President spoke of the need for the ratification of ILO Convention #190, which speaks to “Violent and Harassment in the World of Work”, while the delegation committed ILO support in working with Liberia in that process.
The ILO Regional Director further clarified that issues around violence and harassment at work had gained prominence over the years, but the adoption of Convention #190 by the International Labor Conference (ILC) demonstrates the commitment of ILO member states and social partners to work together in this area. She said that, for the ILO, it is looking forward to working with the Ministry of Labor to support the process that will lead to the ratification of Convention #190.
She assured members of the National Tripartite Council of Liberia that the presence of ILO in Liberia will always remain relevant, important and critical because of its engagement with the labor sector of Liberia.
“I had the opportunity to participate in the 76th Anniversary of the UN Day. H.E. the President of the Republic of Liberia, Dr. George M. Weah, was on that program and his message was very clear. His call to the UN Mission was also clear, and I think our mandate, work plan and action have been placed forward. It is now our role as UN agencies to do our best to expedite and do better, as the President has indicated to work with the government and begin to implement interventions that are impactful, especially at the community level.
“As I said, this is my first visit to Liberia and I had the opportunity to go to Bong County. I met with our beneficiaries in Salala and Totota. I was greatly impressed, and I think I will go back there and also visit other counties.”
Vanessa L. Phala was accompanied to Liberia by Chinyere Emeka-Anuna, Senior Program Officer, and Invoilata Chinyangarara, ILO Specialist on Workers Activities (ACTRAV).