Monrovia, Liberia –A troubling case of alleged labor abuse has surfaced at the Gardnersville branch of Harbel Supermarket, where long-time employee Mrs. Veronica Nimely Kantan claims she was unjustly dismissed without due process or rightful compensation.
According to a formal complaint filed with the Ministry of Labor on May 29, 2025, Mrs. Kantan, who served the company for over eight years, employment was abruptly terminated on allegations of gross insubordination.
The supermarket’s dismissal letter cited CCTV footage showing a heated exchange between her and a supervisor, along with repeated absences.
Management claimed these constituted a breach of company policy and thus terminated her employment with immediate effect and without benefits.
However, Mrs. Kantan disputes the allegations. “The accusation of insubordination is false. There was no fair investigation, no warning, no hearing,” she told Verity News. “This decision came suddenly and unjustly.”
More seriously, Mrs. Kantan alleges she was systematically denied proper compensation for a supervisory role she says she was assigned in November 2022.
“I was verbally appointed as supervisor and worked 12-hour days, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., yet I continued receiving a Shelf Stocker’s salary of $145 until it was raised to $175 in 2023. I was never paid the rightful $250 supervisor’s wage.”
The dismissal letter issued by Harbel Supermarket acknowledged her service for May 2025, paying her just $126, including four hours of overtime. No mention was made of severance, benefits calculations, or accumulated entitlements.
Her employment contract states that summary dismissal can occur under specific conditions including proven insubordination, yet Liberia’s Decent Work Act of 2015 mandates a fair hearing and proper disciplinary process before termination.
In her complaint to Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Mrs. Kantan described the situation as not only a wrongful dismissal but also a “robbery of salary and rights.”
She is now calling on the Ministry to investigate the matter and ensure accountability and full payment of all earnings and benefits due her.
Mr. Matthew Kantan, the husband of Mrs. Kantan is now leading the advocacy calling for broader scrutiny into Harbel Supermarket’s practices.
“If these allegations are accurate, this case represents a violation of both Liberian labor laws and international standards protecting workers from exploitation and arbitrary dismissal,” he stated.
According to him, the matter is currently before the labor Minister Cllr. Kruh.
The Ministry of Labor has acknowledged receipt of the grievance and is expected to launch a formal inquiry into the matter in the coming days.
The Kantans told Verity that they are ready and prepared to fight this case in court in order to put an end to alleged bad labor practices and verbal abuse in supermarkets across the country.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Kantan, now unemployed, awaits justice. “After eight years of loyalty, I deserve to be heard. I deserve my due benefits,” she added.
This paper made multiple calls and sent a message via WhatsApp to the management of Harbel Supermarket through its HR Department, Mr. Lockett Harbert, but every effort to get their side did not materialize.
