The management of the Liberian Agricultural Company (LAC) and the Liberian Agricultural Company Workers’ Union (LAWU) have signed a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), reinforcing what both sides describe as a renewed commitment to partnership, fairness, and industrial harmony.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, will run for three years, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, and introduces significant improvements to wages, benefits, and working conditions for employees.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, LAC General Manager, Naveen Madan, hailed the agreement as a “testament of partnership” between management and workers.
He disclosed that the new CBA provides wage increases almost twice as high as those contained in the previous agreement, alongside improved factory incentives, enhanced shift bonuses, and increased allowances covering food, housing, and leave travel.
Mr. Madan noted that the agreement reflects a shared vision of equity, improved productivity, and sustained workplace peace, stressing that management remains committed to fostering a stable and motivated workforce.
For his part, LAWU Chairman, Terrance Mulbah, expressed appreciation to LAC management, the General Agricultural and Allied Workers Union of Liberia (GAAWUL), and the government for their collaborative roles in the negotiation process.
He said the union entered the talks with a clear objective: strengthening the plantation and securing a better future for workers and their families.
Mulbah reaffirmed the union’s resolve to continue working closely with management to ensure the successful implementation of the agreement and the overall wellbeing of employees.
Representing the government, Assistant Minister of Labor for Trade Union Affairs and Social Dialogue, Rufus Saylee, commended both parties for reaching consensus through dialogue.
He described collective bargaining as a process of compromise and mutual respect, urging full adherence to the terms of the agreement to prevent industrial disputes.
Minister Saylee also emphasized the government’s dual responsibility of safeguarding workers’ rights while promoting a favorable investment climate capable of reducing unemployment.
Among other provisions, the new CBA fixes rice subsidies to ensure workers’ pay less under prevailing market conditions, maintains existing deductions without any increase, and establishes clear grievance procedures.
These procedures require disputes to be addressed through union mechanisms rather than through direct or disruptive actions.
The signing ceremony was attended by union executives, senior management officials, and invited guests, all of whom described the agreement as a significant milestone in building a stronger, more cooperative working relationship at the Liberian Agricultural Company.
