The Security Expert Guard Agency of Liberia (SEGAL) has laid off 499 workers across Grand Bassa, Bong, and Nimba counties.
Security Manager Dave Freeman announced the decision on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the company’s Buchanan office, saying it stemmed from a drop in subcontracting work.
SEGAL provides security services as a subcontractor to ArcelorMittal Liberia, which told the agency it is facing global challenges, including falling iron ore prices, and has scaled back its engagement with some subcontractors. Freeman said this left SEGAL with no alternative but to cut jobs and expressed regret over the move.
Freeman urged the dismissed workers to be patient, saying the company is working behind the scenes to raise funds to pay their back wages.
Some workers are owed salaries for August, while others are owed pay for work done up to September 15, 2026. He said SEGAL acknowledges its obligation to the workers and intends to pay what it owes in due course.
However, no exact date has been given for when the back payments will be completed. The layoffs raise concerns about the immediate livelihoods of hundreds of affected workers and their families, who now face uncertainty, with their short-term financial relief depending largely on SEGAL.
