Senators Introduce Bill to Fast-Track Labor Courts in Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa and Bomi
By Laymah Kollie
January 26, 2026
Monrovia, Liberia –: A group of senators has introduced a new bill in the Liberian Senate seeking to accelerate the establishment and full operation of Labor Courts in Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa and Bomi Counties, in a move aimed at strengthening access to labor justice and easing the burden on workers and businesses.
The proposed legislation, authored by Senators Joseph K. Jallah of Lofa, Alex J. Tyler of Bomi, Simeon B. Taylor of Grand Cape Mount, and Grand Bassa Senator and President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Kanga-Lawrence, was formally submitted to the Senate on January 20, 2026, for first reading and subsequent committee review.
Titled “An Act to Amend Chapter 23 of the New Judiciary Law, Title 17, Liberian Code of Laws Revised, to Provide for the Operationalisation and Prioritised Establishment of Labor Courts in Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa and Bomi Counties,” the bill seeks to ensure that Labor Courts already provided for by law become fully functional and properly staffed in the four counties.
According to the sponsors, the legislation is intended to strengthen access to labor justice, uphold constitutional guarantees under Article 20(b), improve enforcement of the Decent Work Act of 2015, and advance decentralization of judicial services.
Although Chapter 23 of the New Judiciary Law establishes Labor Courts in all 15 counties, many of those courts have remained non-operational for decades. As a result, labor disputes are often handled by Debt Courts under temporary arrangements, forcing workers, employers, concession-affected communities and small businesses to endure delays and additional costs in seeking justice. The bill highlights Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa and Bomi as major centers of agriculture, concessions, cross-border trade and industrial activity, noting that the absence of functioning Labor Courts in these areas has placed heavy pressure on local economies and industrial relations.
If passed, the law would require government to prioritize the establishment, staffing and operationalization of Labor Courts in Voinjama (Lofa), Robertsport (Grand Cape Mount), Buchanan (Grand Bassa) and Tubmanburg (Bomi) within 12 months of the Act coming into force. It also mandates the Judiciary to assign and commission a Labor Court judge for each of the four counties within the same period.
In addition, the bill directs the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to include a distinct budget line each fiscal year to support personnel, logistics, clerks, bailiffs and general operations of the Labor Courts.
The proposed amendments would also end the temporary jurisdiction of Debt Courts over labor appeals in the four counties once Labor Court judges are commissioned, ensuring that such matters are handled exclusively by the specialized courts.
In cases of temporary vacancy or incapacity of a Labor Court judge, the Chief Justice would be empowered to designate a Circuit Court judge to serve concurrently. To ensure accountability, the bill requires the Judiciary to submit a status report to the Legislature within six months of passage, detailing progress toward implementation.
The Ministry of Justice, working with the Ministry of Labour, would also provide prosecutorial and legal support, including the assignment of labor solicitors.
Oversight would be carried out by the Judiciary, Labour, and Ways and Means Committees of both houses of the Legislature. Submitting the bill, the sponsors urged their colleagues to act swiftly, stressing that operational Labor Courts are essential to promoting industrial peace, protecting workers’ rights, and creating a stable labor-market environment in the targeted counties. The legislation was forwarded to committee for review and expected to report to Plenary in coming weeks. If enacted, it would mark a significant step toward decentralizing justice delivery and improving labor dispute resolution across key regions of Liberia
