Published: April 1, 2026
MONROVIA -- A growing dispute has erupted over a controversial $50 levy on foreign workers, with the Liberia Labour and Governance Alliance accusing the Ministry of Labour of diverting public funds into a private platform--allegations the Ministry strongly denies as it suspends the policy pending further consultations.
The Alliance claims the levy, introduced under a March 20 amendment as a "Workforce Development Levy," violates Liberia's Public Financial Management (PFM) Act by channeling funds into a system known as LiberiaWorks rather than the national treasury.
Allegations of Financial Misconduct
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In a statement issued March 30, Alliance Executive Director George S. Tengbeh accused the Ministry of establishing what he described as an illegal parallel financial structure.
The levy requires employers to pay $50 annually for each foreign worker. According to Tengbeh, those funds were not directed through the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), as required by law, but instead routed to LiberiaWorks.
"This raises one fundamental question," Tengbeh said. "Who authorized the privatization of public revenue in Liberia, and why is the function of the Bureau of Employment stripped from the Ministry and given to a private institution?"
Citing Section 21 of the PFM Act, Tengbeh emphasized: "All revenues or moneys raised or received for the purpose of, or on behalf of, the Government shall be paid into and form part of the Consolidated Fund."
He argued that diverting funds to LiberiaWorks amounts to the creation of "an unlawful parallel financial system" and constitutes "institutional sabotage."
Warning of Systemic Risks
Tengbeh warned that allowing such a precedent could have far-reaching consequences for Liberia's governance system.
"Every ministry could create its own 'company' to collect public funds," he said.
"The national budget framework would collapse. Public oversight would be eliminated. Corruption would become institutionalized. This is how states fail. This is how governance systems are captured."
The Alliance has called for legislative hearings, an independent audit, and an investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission. It is also demanding full disclosure of LiberiaWorks' ownership and operational structure, along with accountability from Labour Minister Cooper W. Kruah Sr.
"Public office is a position of trust, not a platform for experimentation with public funds," Tengbeh said. "The laws of Liberia are not suggestions. They are binding obligations."
Ministry Defends LiberiaWorks Initiative
The Ministry of Labour has rejected the allegations, pointing to the official rollout of LiberiaWorks months before the controversy.
According to communications obtained by The Liberian Investigator, the platform was launched on Oct. 7, 2025, at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in partnership with Rise Talent Accelerator.
The presentation was led by Sei Philip Pleiwon, Director of Rise, and formally launched by Ambassador Ora Richards of the Ministry of State.
At the time, Minister Kruah described LiberiaWorks as a strategic response to labor market challenges.
"Finding reliable and prepared talent is one of the most significant challenges to conducting business in Liberia," Kruah said. "Your success is Liberia's success, and our shared challenge demands a shared solution."
He further described the platform as "a system designed with the private sector, for the private sector," aimed at reducing recruitment risks and connecting employers with "a pipeline of vetted, capable Liberian professionals."
Contested Amendment and Policy Shift
The controversy intensified following Amendment No. 1, issued March 20, 2026, which formally introduced the $50 levy and directed that proceeds be administered through LiberiaWorks.
According to the amendment, the funds would support "the further development, expansion, and long-term maintenance and sustainability of the LiberiaWorks national platform," as well as provide technological backing for the Ministry's National Vacation Job Programme.
Tengbeh, however, described the move as evidence of a broader pattern of governance concerns within the Ministry.
He cited "disregard for due process, politicization of labour governance, marginalization of qualified Liberian workers, weak enforcement of labour protections, and opaque recruitment practices."
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Levy Suspended Amid Mounting Pressure
Even before the Alliance's public statement, the Ministry had moved to suspend the levy.
In a March 23, 2026 memorandum addressed to Assistant Minister for Alien Registration Raphael N. Donokolo, Minister Kruah ordered that implementation be halted "pending the outcome of the engagement with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning."
The memo stated the suspension was intended "to help keep the current system running, while we negotiate for full implementation for LiberiaWorks."
The decision underscores ongoing uncertainty surrounding the levy and the broader role of LiberiaWorks in Liberia's labor governance framework.
Debate Widens Beyond the Levy
For Tengbeh and the Alliance, the issue goes beyond a single policy decision.
"This is not just about $50," he said. "This is about the soul of public governance in Liberia. We will not be silent. We will not be intimidated. We will stand for accountability."
