The Inquirer (Monrovia)
30 April 2008
Labor Minister, Kofi Woods, has stressed the importance for the principle of working ethics to be observed among Liberians at their working places.
Minister Woods observed that most working people across the country were not observing the ethical dimension of working ethics, a practice, which he noted Liberians have been living with for several years.
Speaking to this paper yesterday at the new site of the ministry on the UN Drive, Minister Woods said as part of efforts to move his ministry forward, it was observing basic working ethics such as updating its personnel file; adhering to work schedules and allocating just reward to the staff of the ministry regardless of their status.
He said service men at the ministry, which include the janitors are also entitle to per diem as it is the case with other staff of the ministry in keeping with the work ethic being practiced at the ministry.
Minister Woods stressed that people who make sacrifices to clean up the ministry daily and put in extra time while at the same time reporting to job on weekends should be rewarded for their sacrifices in keeping with good working ethics, which his ministry has set in place.
Minister Woods wondered why would others like for example ministers and other senior staff get per diem and other entitlement and those who are service men be left out of the process, stressing that people's sacrifices must be rewarded under good working ethics, no matter who they may be.
On other activities of the ministry, the Labor Minister expressed happiness that the ministry has been relocated to a new building, something, which according to him is the first time in thirty years.
According to him, government was leasing and paying US$50,000 annually for the former building. He said now that the ministry has moved to a new building owned by the government, the government can now redirect the money it was paying as rent for the ministry to other priority needs of the country.
Minister Woods said the relocation was made possible from a contribution of US$100,000 assistance made by the Dutch government, which he secured when he visited that country sometime ago and an initial contribution of additional US$100,000 made by the GOL.
He added that with these financial supports, the ministry was able to relocate and secure vehicles for its staff and other basic logistics. He said there are now vehicles for Assistant Ministers at the ministry; a two 32 seated buses to transport employees; utility vehicles, project vehicles, and plans are now underway to begin moving vehicles to some rural parts of the country, where commissioners of the ministry are operating for the use of these officials.
Minister Woods said as part of the plans to boost and strengthen the ministry, senior staff were meeting twice after ever two weeks to discuss the ministry's work plan, challenges and strategies among others to achieve results.
Minister Woods, however, appealed to donors to provide the ministry with more assistance as it is still in the process to fully complete the building and get other things done at the ministry.
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