Min. of Labor Revokes 19 Foreign Work Permits

Friday, June 27, 2025

The Ministry of Labor has revoked 19 out of 21 foreign work permits following an initial audit targeting non-compliant employment practices involving foreign nationals in Montserrado County and surrounding areas. The audit, which is part of the Ministry’s renewed enforcement campaign to ensure transparency and adherence to Liberia’s labor laws, revealed widespread misuse and misrepresentation of work permits across several commercial establishments. Among the most notable findings: United Motors Corporation (Vai Town): Two foreign nationals were issued permits under managerial titles but were found performing unrelated tasks, such as spare parts supervision and software-related duties. This misclassification constituted a clear violation of permit terms. 

Pee Cee & Sons (Vai Town): Three individuals received permits as branch managers; however, the audit revealed they were functioning as standard sales personnel without managerial responsibilities. Stop & Shop Supermarket (24th Street): Six foreign workers listed as managers and technical staff were, in fact, engaged in lower-tier roles such as receptionist, warehouse helper, and HR assistant. In several cases, the Ministry found that formal applications had not been submitted at all. Boulevard Palace Hotel (12th Street): One foreign worker granted a permit to serve as a CEO assistant was discovered to be working instead as an assistant accountant—an unapproved deviation from the original job description. ORCA Liberia (14th Street): Three permits were revoked due to misrepresentation or missing applications. Positions that were supposed to involve export expertise and specialized skills were instead held by warehouse and sales staff. International Aluminum Factory (5th Street): Four foreign workers were stripped of their permits after being found in roles inconsistent with their approved job titles, ranging from general office work to warehouse support duties. 

“The Ministry remains committed to protecting job opportunities for Liberians while ensuring that foreign nationals working in the country do so legally and transparently,” said Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper Kruah. “This audit is the beginning of a broader initiative to bring integrity to our labor system.” The Ministry has reaffirmed its intention to expand audits across additional counties in the coming weeks. Employers are urged to comply with all labor regulations and ensure that all foreign employment is accurately documented and justified.