The Ministry of Labor continues to make frantic effort to bring concession companies to check, with the latest displayed at ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) that is no exception.
ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) has been at a center stage of bad labor practices, as claims of wrongful dismissal and labor abuse have been reportedly the order of the day at the instruction.
In the midst of growing concerns among concession companies over bad labor practices , the Minister of Labor Cllr. Cooper Kruah sees it fate to bring these companies to check and account for their actions.
In continuation to this journey, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, Minister of Labor along with team paid a visit to Arcelormittal Liberia in Yekepa, Nimba County.
On Thursday, October 18, the Minister engaged directly with the workforce to address a range of pressing concerns related to their employment conditions.
The visit believed to be timely and strategic, was meant to address issues given the ongoing discussions surrounding labor rights and standards within the mining sector.
During the meeting, several key issues were brought to the forefront by the workers.
The workforce emphasized the need for wages that are not only fair but also timely, expressing concerns that their current compensation does not adequately reflect industry standards.
They highlighted the importance of receiving their salaries on schedule, which is vital for their financial stability and well-being.
Workers voiced their urgent need for enhanced medical coverage.
Given the hazardous conditions often associated with their jobs, they underscored the necessity for access to quality healthcare services.
This included requests for comprehensive health insurance plans that would adequately cover medical expenses arising from workplace-related injuries and illnesses.
There were collective calls for a broader range of employee benefits. This included requests for better pension plans, performance-based bonuses, and fair overtime compensation.
The workers articulated that improved benefits would not only enhance their quality of life but also reflect the company’s commitment to valuing its employees.
In response to these concerns, Minister Kruah expressed his dedication to ensuring that these issues are taken seriously.
He committed to collaborating closely with the management of Arcelormittal Liberia to facilitate constructive dialogue and find viable solutions to the issues raised during the discussions.
His assurance offered a sense of hope and optimism among the workers that their voices would be heard and their welfare promoted in the workplace.
It can be recalled, this media outlet reported that Arcelor Mittal (AML), noted as a giant steel company gathering millions of tons of iron ore in the Mountains of Nimba, Liberia, came under the spotlight for allegedly denying possible employment opportunities to tens of its contractors who are said to have met all prescribed requirements following years of non-formalized service delivery.
Kelvin Dunor, spokesperson for the laid off contractors told Verity of the dire conditions confronting them following AML’s alleged refusal to live up its own memorandum of understanding on processes leading to permanent employment.
“Management created a reasonable expectation for employment following 24 months condition set aside as probation before indefinite employment. This has been going on all through the years. It is contrary to the 2015 Decent Work Act which considers three months as probation period,” Dunor said.
He disclosed that in January 2022, when all management short term contractors refused to sign repeated short term contracts, and their action led the company to granting them a full year contract; promising that by January 2023, all management contractors could be employed but failed to meet up with its own policy as well as the Decent Work Act of 2015 which calls for three months probation period.
A memorandum dated December 14, 2022, said to have come from the human resource department of AML is in the possession of Verity and in it, it is mentioned that AML expressed the desire to grant 168 short term employees (STEs) full time employment (FTEs) status.
“We are pleased to announce that management has approved the transition of about one hundred sixty eight of our colleagues who have been working as Short term employees or contractors to full term employees or indefinite term employees of AML. This change is also consistent with provisions of 2021-2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Article 2.14b,” AML’s HR memo states.
The memo continues: “As a progressive company, ArcelorMittal Liberia is embracing new methodologies that will allow us to continue to focus on our core competencies while ensuring continuous efficiency and productivity in our support services divisions.”
According to the aggrieved laid-off contractors, their time of employment was at hand and allegedly met all conditions required, but AML terminated of their contracts without notice and denied due benefits.
“The company instituted in its collective bargaining agreement with the workers union of Liberia, which only advocacy is so concerned of employees, but not taxpaying contractors like us without benefits. We received no leave (vacation) and we were asked to exit the company without prior notice or commitment,” Dunor further explained.
The matter has been through the land commission department of the Magisterial Court in Grand Bassa, but ruling is yet to come out, even though many months have passed and the aggrieved remain sidelined.
