The Minister of Labor, Cllr. Charles H. Gibson, says it is not unreasonable that workers at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) are requesting an increment in their salaries.
Minister Gibson said, “It is the view of this Ministry that, in as much as the demand of workers may not be timely with regards to the seven-count benefits they have requested in the proposed Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA), in view of the financial situation at LEC the Ministry of Labor feels that it is not unreasonable that the workers would request an increment in their salaries at this time. As regards the seven-count demands presented for negotiation in the CBA, it may not be timely due to the economic situation that has been presented to the ministry by LEC.
“We have received from LEC a presentation, an entity that is growing with a financial downturn but not necessarily a financial crisis. We also received from the workers a breakdown of what they would like for LEC to provide for them in terms of incentive and salary,” the minister stated.
Speaking on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, when he presented a preliminary determination in the on-going social dialogue between the management and workers of the LEC, Minister Gibson requested the LEC management to present to the ministry within one week a program for increment of the salaries of workers at the LEC, while negotiation on CBA and benefits would be tabled for a later date when the financial situation at LEC is improved.
But within a week, the ministry wants LEC to present a scale that puts the entire LEC workforce into three categories. The category to the bottom must be the first to have salary increment (those who are earning the lowest). The category in the center, in terms of the salary scale, should be the second, and the category up will be the last.
Cllr. Gibson said that the intent of salary increment for the workers in the lower category will start effective April 1, 2023 and the others within three months thereafter, to follow, to give the management time to adjust financially. He however noted that the management may not be required to carry out the increment in bulk, but in stages.
Minister Gibson encouraged that the management outlines in its proposal to the MOL what increment they can afford in all three categories of workers over a period of time, and it must include increment based on the financial situation of the LEC.
He added that, following, MOL will study it to make a final determination as to the way forward regarding salary increment in the three categories of LEC workers and the timing.
Based on that, MOL will make a determination in view of such increment. The negotiation on the CBA can be tabled until the financial situation at the LEC is improved.
“This is an interim determination, but a final determination will be made next week Friday upon receipt of the management’s proposal,” the labor boss said.
“Therefore, it is the determination of the MOL that it is not unreasonable for the workers to request for some increment of salaries at this time. We have given it back to LEC to determine what the increment may be in three categories, but now negotiation on the collective bargaining agreement is suspended until a final determination is made,” he maintained.
The social dialogue meeting was attended by the Senior Management Team of the LEC and the leadership of the LEC Workers Union and their Mother Union, United Workers Union of Liberia (UWUL).