By Archie Boan
Verity News investigation has obtained letters of termination and an official AFCON list of over 200 workers who have been notified of termination this March 2026. The aggrieved workers who have been protesting against alleged labor abuse said to Verity, “Our rights are being violated.”
In a letter dated February 23, 2026 and addressed to the Nimba Legislative Caucus, the workers formally accused AFCONS, a contracting firm of Arcelor Mittal, of alleged labor violations and financial malpractices.
The complaint, signed by employees at the Tokadeh Mines within the ArcelorMittal Liberia concession in Yekepa, outlines several grievances, including the alleged failure of the company to provide hazard benefits despite workers operating in high-risk mining and construction environments.
Workers’ claim of exposure to iron ore mining operations has resulted in injuries and health complications, forcing some employees to pay medical costs out of pocket. They said that despite presenting research-based evidence on occupational hazards, both AFCONS and AML declined to provide hazard benefits.
The complaint also alleges financial malpractice, including excessive tax deductions beyond legal limits and deductions for contributions to the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) that workers say were never reflected in their individual accounts.
Workers further claim AFCONS failed to provide tax clearance certificates as required by the Liberia Revenue Authority regulations and did not offer clear payroll records explaining the deductions.
Additionally, the group accused the company of refusing to pay end-of-contract or end-of-project benefits, which they argue are legally owed when employment ends or projects are completed.
According to the letter, the workers issued a 72-hour ultimatum to AFCONS management earlier in February demanding hazard benefits, reimbursement of alleged illegal deductions, and payment of end-of-contract benefits. They claim the company rejected the demands, stating that hazard benefits were unconstitutional and lacked legal backing.
The workers also alleged that during a meeting at AFCONS’ conference hall, representatives of AML and local labor authorities pressured them to submit a “request” rather than a formal claim against the company.
Labour Commissioner Responds
However, Alex Cooper Suomie, Labour Commissioner for Nimba County, said the dispute largely stems from the nature of the workers’ contracts.
Suomie explained that AFCONS hires workers under fixed-term contracts — often lasting three or six months — which automatically expire once the project phase ends or workload declines.
“Many of the time our brothers raise issues that are not within the confines of the law,” Suomie told Verity News. “They were given definite contracts that had a start and end date.”
According to him, workers began protesting after receiving notices that their contracts were nearing completion and that their services would no longer be required due to reduced operations linked to AML’s projects.
Suomie said some protesters also demanded that the company pay each worker US$10,000 in benefits dating back to 2021—an amount he said was not supported by their contractual agreements.
“When I investigated, none of those benefits were included in their contracts,” he said. “So the question became: what legal grounds are there to compel the company to make those payments?”
He added that the Ministry of Labour later dispatched a delegation—including the Assistant Minister for Labour Standards and the Labour Inspector General—to review the situation.
Arrests During Protest
The dispute escalated when workers allegedly blocked access to the mining site, prompting intervention by security forces.
Suomie said police were called after protesters locked a checkpoint at the concession area. Authorities reported that some protesters resisted officers, leading to arrests.
According to the commissioner, 27 workers were arrested, with seven later released and 20 forwarded to court.
Despite the dispute, Suomie acknowledged that some complaints — particularly regarding tax deductions, overtime calculations, and NASSCORP contributions—are still under investigation by a committee established to review the claims.
Company Yet to Respond
Efforts by Verity News to obtain a response from AFCONS Infrastructure Limited were unsuccessful. Multiple phone calls placed to the company’s Human Resource Manager, Oscar Dolo, went unanswered as of publication time.
Meanwhile, the dispute has reportedly drawn the attention of national lawmakers, including members of the Nimba Legislative Caucus, who are said to be working to mediate the conflict between the workers and the company.
The situation continues to raise concerns about labor conditions and oversight of subcontractors operating within Liberia’s major mining concessions.
