Africa-Press – Liberia. The House of Representatives has instructed its Committees on Good Governance, Labor, and Judiciary to look into a draft bill seeking the amendment of Chapter 16.1 of the Decent Work Act of 2015, titled the Private Sector Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2025 and report to the body.
The House took the decision following a communication from Montserrado County District #3 Representative, Sumo Mulbah, encouraging the Plenary to consider the proposed amendment aimed at updating Liberia’s minimum wage structure for private sector employees.
According to Rep. Mulbah, the proposed legislation seeks to ensure that wages within the private sector are fair, sustainable, and reflective of current economic realities, allowing workers to maintain a decent standard of living.
He said this proposed change aims to update the minimum wage provisions in Liberia’s private sector, ensuring wages are sufficient for a decent standard of living and reflect current economic realities.
“While the Decent Work Act of 2015 establishes the labor standards framework, including minimum wages, a review of Liberia’s financial conditions and living costs highlights the need for an adjustment to these standards. This update is essential to support workers and their families, promote economic stability, reduce poverty, and improve overall well-being for the private sector workforce.”
Rep. Mulbah added that given Liberia’s current economic situation and costs for essential goods and services, a re-evaluation of the minimum wage is necessary. The International Labor Organization (ILO) highlights the need for regular minimum wage updates to preserve purchasing power and support a fair standard of living. The proposed change aims to create a more just and sustainable minimum wage system for the private sector, aligning with international standards and social justice principles.
“The details of the proposed wage adjustments, including the calculation and implementation methods, will be provided in the related legislative draft. We believe this amendment will boost economic empowerment for Liberian workers and foster broader economic growth by enhancing consumer purchasing power.”
The Decent Work Act of 2015 was enacted to modernize and unify Liberia’s labor laws, aligning them with international standards, particularly those advocated by the International Labor Organization (ILO). Chapter 16.1 of this Act explicitly covers minimum wages, establishing a legal framework for their setting and enforcement. The law’s goal is to foster productive employment, social protection, and uphold core principles and rights at work.
The Montserrado County lawmaker went on to say the rationale for the Private Sector Minimum Wage Amendment Act, 2025, is multifaceted, preventing salary disparities between foreign and local workers, which can eliminate feelings of unfairness and resentment among local staff. This, in turn, alleviates government pressure by showing a state of balance.
“When local employees, who often have similar skills and a better understanding of the local context, see their foreign colleagues earning significantly more and getting better benefits, it can create feelings of being undervalued. This gap can damage workplace relationships and diminish program effectiveness, particularly in sectors like mining and development, where teamwork is essential.”
He noted that politically, concessions demand substantial resources, draining the country, and that while foreign workers are compensated, local workers receive low wages and lack retirement benefits.
Rep. Mulbah said the proposed amendment will focus on establishing a new minimum wage rate for the private sector that is regularly reviewed and adjusted based on economic indicators such as inflation, cost of living, and national productivity.
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