Workers assigned to Arcelor Mittal through its subcontractor, AFCONS, staged a protest at the Tokadeh Mining site. “We are in hell. It’s not what people who sit in Monrovia think. There’s serious labor abuse. We do not have rights here,” multiple workers told Verity News.
The protest at the company’s premises highlighted demands for end-of-project payments, hardship allowances, and other contractual benefits.
According to the aggrieved workers, they are enduring alleged bad labor abuses, noting that those in authorities that are supposed to them seem to be bought by ALM.
In response, Minister of Labor, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, condemned the strike as illegal while acknowledging that workers have the right to air grievances. He urged the employees to pursue lawful channels to address their complaints.
“While concerns are legitimate, they must be presented in an orderly and lawful manner, particularly where claims require proper documentation and verification,” Minister Kruah said, linking the workers’ concerns to the legal framework governing labor disputes.
The Labor Minister encouraged employees to formally document their complaints and submit them to the Office of the Labor Commissioner in their respective counties. “If the claims are found to be legitimate, the Ministry will direct management to settle benefits accordingly,” he added.
Minister Kruah further noted that many of the striking workers were employed on contractual terms. “We will review these contracts to determine whether any provisions were violated. This process will guide our recommendations to management on possible settlements,” he explained.
He cautioned that engaging in unauthorized strike action could undermine workers’ cases, emphasizing that Liberian labor law requires prior notice to the Ministry and an opportunity for intervention before industrial action is undertaken.
While urging calm, the Minister called on remaining AFCON employees to return to work and channel concerns through their leadership structures. He reiterated that the Ministry’s role is to ensure grievances are addressed in accordance with the law.
In a conciliatory move, Minister Kruah also encouraged ArcelorMittal Liberia to consider absorbing qualified former AFCON workers into permanent roles. “With AFCON’s projects nearing completion, AML has an opportunity to provide stability for workers while supporting the Government’s employment objectives,” he said.
Community leaders in Nimba County welcomed the call for lawful resolution, stressing that dialogue and proper documentation are more effective than disruptive actions in securing worker rights.
The strike occurs at a sensitive time as ArcelorMittal continues major infrastructure projects along Liberia’s mining corridors, underlining the importance of balancing worker welfare with operational continuity.
The Ministry of Labor has pledged to monitor the situation closely, mediate disputes, and ensure that any legitimate claims are addressed promptly, signaling a measured and structured approach to industrial relations in Liberia’s extractive sector.
