Ministry of Labor has been commended by the African Regional Labor Administrative Center (ARLAC) for exemplary leadership in Labor Administration in Africa and being a model for countries emerging from protracted conflict.

	• Minister Samuel Woods

The commendations were made when the Minister of Labor Samuel Woods, II at the head of the Liberian delegation, participated in the 34th ARLAC Governing Council Meeting of African Ministers of Labor held in Kariba, Zimbabwe from February 25 - 29, 2008.

The commendation was made after Liberia cleared all of its outstanding indebtedness to ARLAC. Accordingly, the country is now eligible to benefit from the regional organization.

Liberia will benefit immensely from consultancy services, training and enhanced capacity-development for workers, employers and government. The meeting also finalized the establishment of a Post-graduate and Masters Program in Labor Administration.

ARLAC was founded in 1974 as the premier African regional Institution responsible to strengthen labor administration in member countries through training, research and advisory services.

ARLAC looks at practical real world solutions to meet the demands of today's changing economy, where new management thinking must reflect the interest of everyone in the world of work.

Today, ARLAC has the distinction of being one of the oldest regional institutions on the continent, which imparts training at the tripartite level, both at the national and regional levels in the field of labor administration, industrial relations, labor legislation, labor management and workers education.

Liberia was represented at the 34th Governing Council of Ministers of Labor by Minister Woods and Assistant Minister Cole Bangalu, Assistant Minister for Regional Labor Affairs and designates Union Affairs.

Liberia Police Director Of Traffic Accused
By Mike Jabateh

The Director of Traffic of the Liberian National Police (LNP), Mr. Meikie Gray, has been accused of unilaterally grounding several trucks operated by Trucks Drivers Association of Liberia.

His accusers claimed he ordered their trucks parked on grounds that thet are not road worthy.

The group spokesperson, Mohammed Kromah, over 43 trucks were parked at the Zone 1, Congo Depot and Supermarket Depots. He alleged that the officer told the truck owners to pay US$50 each to release their truck

In an anxiety to resume their businesses, the spokesperson said more than 25 drivers paid to Director Gray and he ordered those trucks released. But the drivers are not pleased with the treatment and is contemplating tough action.

Mr. Kromah said they will be compelled to park all gasoline trucks, containers trucks and body trucks until the government can ask the Traffic Director few questions relative to his alleged action, terming it as “act of corruption and harassment against trucks drivers.”

He also complained of the incessant harrassement from Police officers against trucks drivers plying the Monrovia-Kakata highway.

Meanwhile, Director Gray has rubbished the claims and told this paper that he only parked trucks that were not road worthy and those that met the standards set by the Police were immediately released.