In a decisive policy shift aimed at tackling unemployment and reducing foreign dominance in the job market, the government has announced a sharp hike in alien work permit fees, tripling the annual cost from US$1,000 to US$3,000.
Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper Kruah, Sr. disclosed the new measure Thursday in Monrovia, stressing that it is part of President Joseph Boakai’s broader drive to ensure Liberians are given priority in jobs they are capable of performing.
“This increment applies to regular work permits,” Minister Kruah clarified. “Other categories — including gratis and ECOWAS-related permits — will be addressed at a later stage. We want foreign companies operating in Liberia to prioritize hiring Liberians for major jobs within their concessions.”
The announcement comes in the wake of mounting criticism from lawmakers and ordinary citizens over what many see as an unchecked influx of expatriates into Liberia’s job market, despite the country’s high unemployment rate. Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon recently spearheaded a Senate probe into thousands of permits issued to foreign workers, intensifying pressure on the Ministry of Labor to tighten its rules.
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Kruah revealed that the government has already taken concrete steps, pointing to actions against major concessionaires. “More than 300 permits held by expatriates at Bea Mountain Mining Corporation will not be renewed,” he declared. “We cannot continue to issue permits for jobs our people are qualified to do.”
The minister also linked the policy to ongoing youth employment initiatives, highlighting the administration’s efforts to create opportunities for young Liberians. According to him, more than 1,305 students benefitted from the 2025 Vacation Job Program, working across government ministries, agencies, and private companies.
“We appreciate the companies and institutions that supported the program,” Kruah said. “This is a clear example of how the private sector and government can work together to provide meaningful opportunities for our young people.”
The Liberia Labor Congress (LLC) immediately welcomed the announcement, calling it a “victory for Liberian workers.”
“For too long, foreign workers have occupied jobs that Liberians are fully qualified to do, while our young people roam the streets unemployed,” said LLC Secretary-General, Martha Kollie. “This action by the Ministry of Labor sends a strong signal that the government is listening to the cries of its people.”
Kollie urged the Ministry to go further by monitoring companies to ensure compliance. “It is one thing to raise fees, but it is another to make sure companies are actually hiring and training Liberians. Enforcement will be the real test.”
But business groups sounded a note of caution, warning that the sharp fee hike could have unintended consequences for investment. The Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC) expressed concerns that the cost burden might discourage new investors or be passed onto consumers.
“We understand the government’s objective of protecting jobs for Liberians,” said LCC President, Samuel P. Tweh. “However, a 200 percent increase in permit fees is steep. For companies in sectors like mining, construction, and agriculture, where skilled expatriates are sometimes necessary, this could raise operating costs significantly.”
Tweh called for dialogue between government and the private sector to strike a balance. “We are not against prioritizing Liberians, but we must also safeguard the business climate. Predictable and consultative policymaking is critical if Liberia wants to remain competitive in attracting investment.”
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The fee hike underscores President Boakai’s determination to balance the country’s reliance on foreign investment with urgent domestic pressures to address joblessness. Liberia continues to struggle with high unemployment, especially among youth, a challenge that has fueled public frustration and demands for reform.
Analysts say the policy could generate more revenue for the government, but its success will depend on how effectively it compels companies to hire and train Liberians rather than simply absorbing the higher permit costs.
For many citizens, however, the move represents a long-awaited step toward reclaiming the local job market.
“This is about dignity and fairness,” said student intern Josephine Johnson, who participated in the vacation job program. “We just want a chance to work in our own country.”
