The Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministry of Labor, has issued a strong warning to the group of contract workers at AFCONS Company in Tokodeh to immediately resume their duties or face consequential job loss.
AFCONS, the largest subcontractor for ArcelorMittal Liberia, employs over eight hundred workers. However, the company is currently winding down its contract tenure. A splinter group of approximately three hundred workers, led by Christopher Weah, has staged a strike and engaged in picketing activities that prevent non-involved employees from attending their jobs.
Labor Minister, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. described their actions as “illegal”. A recent Labor Ministry press release, signed by Deputy Communications and Public Affairs Director, E. Frederick Baye, quotes Assistant Labor Minister for Labor Standards, Emmanuel Zorh, as saying that the Crisis Resolution Team, led by Zorh, investigated the situation and clarified that the striking workers are unlawfully demanding US$10,000 per individual as “end of contract fees”.
The release emphasizes that such demands are not stipulated in their employment contracts nor covered under the Decent Work Act. Additionally, the workers have levied accusations against management, including claims of providing contaminated water. This claim was thoroughly tested and declared invalid in January, after a mineral water company confirmed the water supplied was fit for human consumption.
Further investigation revealed that in 2025 the workers signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with AFCONS management, receiving US$300 per worker as “motivational fees”. In exchange, they committed to waiving all other claims, a condition which precipitated their current illegal strike action.
Assistant Labor Minister Zorh condemned the on-going strike and warned that failure to resolve their grievances amicably and resume work within ten consecutive working days will be deemed a breach of the Decent Work Act (DWA). Such breaches could result in termination of employment. The ministry reiterated its stance that it will not tolerate persistent unlawful strikes, especially those employing ‘blackmail’ tactics to extort money from industrial entities.
“The ministry calls on all affected workers to cease unlawful actions and return to their duties to preserve industrial peace and economic stability,” the press release stated.
