Liberia: Dillon Bill Could Jail Employers Who Force Workers to Retire Before 70

What the report says

A bill introduced in Liberia’s Senate by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon would prevent employers from forcing workers to retire before age 70 and could impose prison terms and fines on those who violate the rule. The proposal was first read during a regular Senate session in Monrovia, according to The Liberian Investigator, which said it would next be sent to committee for review.

The measure would amend the National Social Security and Welfare Act to raise the normal retirement age from current practice to 70, while preserving employees’ ability to choose early retirement. It would also bar employers from compelling retirement at 60 or 65, or simply because a worker has completed 25 years of service. Under the draft text, forcing retirement, retaliating against a worker, or creating harsh conditions tied to age or tenure could be treated as a violation of the law.

The bill includes penalties of six months to two years in prison, a fine of at least US$10,000, or both, for employers or officers convicted of unlawful retirement-related conduct. It also says workers who reach 70, or complete 30 years of continuous service, would qualify for full pension benefits without reduction. Dillon argued the change would help workers build better pensions, retain experienced staff, and support the broader pension system, while still allowing legitimate performance or safety-based employment decisions.

The proposal would also require NASSCORP and the Ministry of Labor to update regulations, educate employers and workers, handle complaints, and enforce compliance.