The Ministry of Labor will on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, give a ruling in two long-standing disputes before the ministry, which date as far back as 2021.
Announcing the decision on Thursday, April 6, 2023, Labor Minister, Cllr. Charles H. Gibson, said the ministry is expected to rule in the cases involving the Workers Union versus the Management of ArcelorMittal Liberia and the Management of the Liberia Electricity Cooperation (LEC) verses their workers’ union.
Both cases emanated from the separate Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed between the workers and the managements of the two companies.
The issues of contention being brought forth by workers of both companies in separate complaints filed before the Ministry of Labor range from salary disparities and increments in salary to overtime and safety at work.
Speaking at a social dialogue meeting held with the management of AML and the workers’ union, Minister Gibson underscored the need for a “grading system” to be put into place by the management based on categories of jobs being performed by workers.
He said the grading system in the workplace could be used as a motivational factor for workers, and it should be in line with the policy of “equal pay for equal work”.
Minister Gibson noted that the mandate of the Ministry of Labor is to rule in labor cases whenever there is a deadlock as such.
On Tuesday, April 11, 2023, beginning at 10:00 a.m. the ministry will give the first ruling in the LEC case, and at 11:00 a.m. rule on the AML case in the conference room of the Ministry of Labor, Congo Town.
According to Minister Gibson, in the wisdom of the ministry, negotiation had ended and what is now required in these cases is the decision to bring to an end the long-standing disputes.
He said these issues cannot continue to be held at the ministry forever, and it is time to make a final determination. “Any party that is not satisfied can take an appeal to the Labor Court, but the Ministry of Labor will no longer allow these matters to continue before it,” a Ministry of Labor press release said.