Monrovia, March 23, 2023… The Minister of Labour, Cllr. Charles H. Gibson says it is not unreasonable that workers at the Liberia Electricity Cooperation are requesting an increment in their salaries.
The Minister said , it is the view of this Ministry that in as much as the demand of workers may not be timely with regards to the seven count benefits they have requested in the proposed Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA), in view of the financial situation at LEC.
The Ministry of Labour feels that it is not unreasonable that the workers would request an increment in their salaries at this time. As regards the seven count demands presented for negotiation in the CBA may not be timely due to the economic situation that had been presented to the Ministry by LEC.
“We have received from LEC a presentation, yet an entity that is growing with a financial downturn but not necessarily a financial crisis. We also received from the workers a breakdown of what they would like for LEC to provide for them with intense incentives and salary.
Speaking on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, when presented a preliminary determination in ongoing social dialogue between the Management and workers of the LEC, Minister Gibson requested the LEC Management to present to the Ministry within one week a program for increment of workers at the LEC, while negotiation on CBA and benefits will be table for later date when the financial situation at LEC is improved.
But within a week, the Ministry wants LEC to present a scale that puts the entire LEC workforce into three categories. The category to the bottom, must be the first to have a salary increment (those who are earning the lowest). The category in the center of the salary scales should be the second and the category up will be the last.
Cllr. Gibson said that the intent salary increment for the workers in the lower category will start effective on April 1st, 2023 and the others within three months thereafter to follow to give the management time to adjust financially. He however noted that the management may not be required to carry on the increment in bulk but in stages.
He encouraged the Management to outline in its proposal to the MOL what increment they can afford in all three category of workers over the period of time and it must include an increment based on the financial situation of the LEC.
He added that following, MOL will study it to make a final determination as to the way forward regarding salary increment in the category of LEC workers and the timing.
Based on that, MOL will make determination in view of such an increment, the negotiation on the CBA can be table until the financial situation at the LEC is improved.
“This is an interim determination but a final determination will be made next week Friday upon receipt of the management proposal.
Therefore, it is the determination of the MOL that it is not unreasonable for the workers to request for some increment of the salaries at this time. We have giving it back to LEC to determine what the increment will be in three categories, but now negotiation on the Collective Bargaining Agreement is suspended until a final determination is made.”
The social dialogue meeting was attended by the Senior Management Team of the LEC and the leadership of the LEC Workers Union and their Mother Union, United Workers Union of Liberia, (UWUL).
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