MINISTRY OF LABOUR; LSEZA SIGN MOU TO ENFORCE ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR INVESTORS

The Ministry of Labour and the Liberia Special Economic Zone Authority (LSEZA) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration and coordination in establishing streamlined Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Labour and Employment standards and guidelines. Speaking during the signing ceremony held at the Labour Ministry on today, the Executive Chairman of (LSEZA), Hon. Prince A. Wreh, said the signing of the MOU is in keeping with section 16 of the Act creating his entity which states that all responsible institution of Government working within the mode of the Economic Zone must have an one stop-shop environment. He described the Ministry of Labour as a critical part of the one Stop-shop arrangement, stressing that with the signing of the MOU between the two institutions, the LSEZA will commence full operations in areas involving the ministry. The LSEZA Executive Chairman then assured Labour Minister Hon. Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr that the Ministry’s representation at the One Stop-shop will enhance the work of LSEZA. In response, Labour Minister Kruah outlined the importance of the One Stop-shop in reactivating the Liberia Special Economic Zone, emphasizing that this will assist individuals coming to the country to invest to have easy access to related government entities in processing their documents as an encouragement to foreign investors. The minister further assured LSEZA of his willingness to work with them in ensuring that personnel from the Ministry of Labour are assigned at the One-Stop-Shop for prompt coordination. A Labour Ministry press release issued today disclosed that the primary objectives of the MOU include: to establish and enforce labour protections within LSEZA, develop and implement a special labour legal and regulatory framework aligned with National Labour Law and international labour standard, as well as to ensure compliance with national immigration laws and internally recognized standards. The MOU will also facilitate the collaboration between LSEZA and MOL in developing and implementing labour-related regulations; and Promote the welfare, rights and safety of workers in Special Economic Zones across the country. It will also support the establishment of the SEZ labour center to oversee labour relations, employment policies, and dispute resolution mechanisms and Collaborate to ensure that all SEZs Enterprises comply with occupational health and safety standards by mandating employees engaged in the processing, manufacturing or packaging of food, health, or pharmaceutical products to possess valid occupational health cards issued by the SEZs Labour Center, the release concluded.