Monrovia, Oct. 21 (LINA) – The Ministry of Labour (Mol) has requested the Board of Directors of the More Than Me (MTM) Academy to furnish it with a number of documents that falls under the purview of that agency of government within three working days.
In a letter dated October 19, 2018 addressed to the Chairman and Members of the MTM Board of Directors, Labour Minister Moses S. Kollie asked for the Quarterly Establishment Survey (QES) questionnaire for the period 2013-2016 and 2018.
The Labour Minister also requested photocopies of the Work Permit of foreign employees within the employ of MTM for the same period as well as contract sheets of all employees for the period under review.
Copy of the Employees Handbook is also among the documents being sought by the Labour Ministry.
Minister Kollie told the MTM Board that the documents were important in establishing whether allegations against MTM are substantiated and, in the ministry’s case, whether or not any labour violations existed at the time spoken of or currently.
The minister earlier informed the MTM Board that the Labour Ministry was part of an inter-ministerial team investigating MTM’s portrayal in a documentary by the Pro-Publica media outlet.
He reminded the MTM Board that the Labour Ministry was charged with the statutory mandate to coordinate employment issues; ensure workers protection; create a safe work environment and ensure compliance with the Labour Laws.
The Liberian government set up the inter-ministerial team to probe allegations in the Pro-Publica publication that students of the MTM Academy in Monrovia run by an American NGO were being raped and subjected to sexual abuse by the co-founder of the NGO.
Co-founder McIntosh Johnson was said to have later died in prison of the HIV virus, while facing court trial.
Katie Meyler, founder of the MTM, has resigned temporarily from her post but expressed willingness to aid the probe into the allegations against the NGO.
LINA PTK/PTK