Published: September 4, 2025
MONROVIA — The Government of Liberia has tripled the cost of alien work permits, hiking annual fees from $1,000 to $3,000 in a move aimed at curbing foreign dominance in jobs Liberians can perform. The increase, effective immediately, was announced Thursday by Labor Minister Cooper Kruah in Monrovia.
Kruah said the hike applies to regular permits, with other categories — including gratis and ECOWAS-related permits — to be addressed later.
The policy shift follows mounting criticism from lawmakers and citizens over the large number of expatriates holding Liberian jobs despite widespread unemployment. Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon recently led a Senate probe into thousands of work permits issued to foreigners, prompting pressure on the Ministry of Labor to tighten its rules.
“We want foreign companies operating in Liberia to prioritize hiring Liberians for major jobs within their concessions,” Kruah declared. He revealed that more than 300 permits held by expatriates at Bea Mountain Mining Corporation will not be renewed. “We cannot continue to issue permits for jobs our people are qualified to do,” he warned.
The minister also highlighted government-backed youth employment efforts, noting that 1,305 students took part in the 2025 vacation job program across ministries, agencies and private firms. He credited companies and institutions that supported the initiative.
The sharp fee hike underscores President Joseph Boakai’s broader push to tackle joblessness while balancing the country’s reliance on foreign investment. With unemployment high and public pressure growing, the administration is betting that stricter labor controls will force companies to put more Liberians to work.
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