On 6th May 2024, following a resolution for dialogue with defaulting member states, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, led a delegation to Monrovia, Liberia, earlier this week, to foster collaboration and address the issue of outstanding membership dues owed to the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC).
Minister Swaray’s visit to Liberia follows his recent appointment as the Regional Coordinator of ARLAC Member States in West Africa during the 50th Governing Council Meeting held in Mombasa, Kenya, earlier this year. At that meeting, the ARLAC Governing Council decided to expel states who defaulted in payment of their yearly membership dues, amongst them, Liberia.
However, Mr. Swaray advocated for a diplomatic approach towards member states with arrears, urging engagement rather than punitive measures like suspension or expulsion. During his meeting with Liberia’s Minister of Labour, Honourable Cooper W. Kruah (Snr.), the Sierra Leone Minister of Labour emphasized the significance of honouring financial commitments to ARLAC, stressing the importance of ARLAC’s mandate to strengthen labour administration systems across Africa through training, research, consultancy, advisory services, and publications. He conveyed his responsibility to update the ARLAC Governing Council ahead of the International Labour Conference scheduled for June, in Geneva, Switzerland. He underscored the need for Liberia to fulfil its obligations to ARLAC to restore its position within the organization.
In response, Minister Kruah acknowledged Minister Swaray’s efforts and commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and assured his counterpart of Liberia’s dedication to settling the arrears promptly to reestablish its active role in ARLAC. The discussion extended beyond financial matters, with both Ministers highlighting the importance of collaboration between Sierra Leone and Liberia in various areas, including training and the digitalization of labour administration activities.
Furthermore, Minister Swaray engaged with Liberia’s Deputy Minister for Manpower, Planning, and Human Resources Development, Honourable Steven S. Kolubah, to explore Liberia’s digitalized work permit processes. Minister Kolubah showcased Liberia’s inspiring advanced biometric work permit facilities. In turn, Mr. Swaray shared Sierra Leone’s progress in modernizing its work permit systems. These exchanges underlined a mutual interest in leveraging technology for efficient labour administration across the region. The Minister’s visit signifies a step towards strengthening regional partnerships and fostering cooperation between Sierra Leone and Liberia in the field of labour administration. As ARLAC continues its efforts to enhance labour governance and capacity building in Africa, such collaborations are instrumental in advancing shared goals of development and progress.
