The Minister of Labour, Cooper W. Kruah, has clarified how the Labour Law and the Decent Work Act, contain no provisions that prohibit workers in the ‘informal economy’ from unionizing or organizing themselves.
Kruah made the statement on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, during a meeting with Ms. Marion Daniaud, and Pradeep Wagle of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Monrovia.
He said, ECOWAS citizens engaged in business activities are classified as ‘informal workers,’ and are therefore, required to pay an annual work permit fee of US$250, lower than fees applied in the formal sector.
Mr. Kruah meanwhile, urged the visiting delegation to support the development of additional programs targeting the informal sector.
He said, many participants in the sector make limited contributions to formal economic structures, such as tax compliance, and therefore, require more inclusive policy interventions.
Kruah also highlighted ongoing government efforts to provide education, and support to strengthen the informal sector and enhance its contribution to national economic development.
As to concerns raised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) regarding the harmonization of the Labour Laws, Mr. Kruah requested expert collaboration to achieve the objective.
He further solicited support to revamp the Ministry’s statistical systems to improve the collection of employment data and other key labour indicators.
Mr. Pradeep Wagle stated that the purpose of their visit was to explore ways in which the Ministry of Labour and OHCHR can collaborate effectively to bridge existing gaps in the Decent Work Act of 2015.
Wagle said, ongoing research seeks to identify opportunities to support both the Ministry and stakeholders contributing to Liberia’s economy.
Meanwhile, Ms. Daniaud has said, their research focuses on access to justice for workers in the informal economy.
She said, the sector accounts for approximately 90 percent of the population and contributes about 40 percent of the national GDP, making it critical to strengthen human rights protections to inform policymaking and safeguard workers’ rights.
The delegation presented copies of their research titled: “Workers in the Informal Economy in Liberia: A Legal Analysis and Advocacy Brief:”