Arcelor Mittal (AML), a giant steel company gathering millions of tons of iron ore in the Mountains of Nimba, Liberia, has come 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.
Even with the involvement of the Ministry of Labor in May 2023, the struggling laid-off staffers continue to appeal for justice-something that is said to remain a distant reality.
AML in its memorandum noted that “In line with the Phase Two expansion project, management informs all that AML will be working with local and international companies to create exciting new job opportunities for our diverse employees,” adding, “This strategy will create greater access to skills or resources and increase flexibility to meet challenging business and commercial conditions,” but the aggrieved laid-off staff claim the company’s message is cosmetic.
“We, as management contractors, being aware of our labor laws that speak against bad practices and all forms of discrimination and witch hunt, which this company is involved into, are seeking justice,” the aggrieved laid-off contractors noted.
The Decent Work Act of 2015, chapter 13.1c talks about conversion and terms of contracts. It states “That a contractor may serve a probationer period of not more than three months, after that he or she has the right to choose his or her status.”
Many voices, although silent, continue to battle the troubling conditions at work places, mainly those own and financed by foreigners and aliens who have taken control of national leadership structures.
When contacted, Winston Doyoue, the communication and public affairs officer said he could not comment to the claims of the aggrieved laid-off contractors.
