Monrovia, Sept. 14 -- The Liberian People's Party has called for an urgent overhaul of Liberia's work-permit and immigration systems, warning that the government risks prioritizing revenue collection over the protection of jobs for Liberian citizens.

In a strongly worded statement issued Sunday, September 13, the opposition party accused the government of allowing work permits to increasingly function as revenue-generating instruments while qualified Liberians struggle to secure decent and sustainable employment.

The LPP said Liberia cannot address its employment challenges by making it easier for employers to hire foreign workers simply by paying higher permit fees.

The party cited figures showing that the Ministry of Labour collected...