Africa-Press – Liberia. The Minister of Labor, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, has described the ongoing strike action by workers of AFCON, a subcontractor of ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), as ‘illegal’ and has called on the aggrieved workers to return to work while pursuing lawful channels to address their grievances.
On Thursday, February 5, 2026, former AFCON workers staged a strike action at the company’s premises, demanding end-of-project payments, hardship allowances and other benefits.
Minister Kruah expressed the Ministry’s concern over the workers’ actions. He emphasized that while workers have the right to express grievances, such concerns must be presented in an orderly and lawful manner, particularly where claims require proper documentation and investigation.
The Minister encouraged the affected workers to formally document their complaints and file them with the Office of the Labour Commissioner in the respective county for proper hearing and investigation.
He noted that if the claims are found to be legitimate, the Ministry will mandate management to address and settle the benefits accordingly. However, he stressed that the Ministry cannot compel any company to make payments without first establishing the facts.
Minister Kruah further stated that since the majority of the aggrieved workers were contract employees, the Ministry will review their contracts to determine whether any provisions were violated. This process, he said, will guide the Ministry in making appropriate recommendations to management regarding possible settlements.
He called on all workers to remain peaceful and urged those still employed to return to work and channel their concerns through their leadership in an orderly manner.
He also advised that all demands be formally submitted to the Office of the Labor Commissioner of Nimba County for investigation and resolution.
The Labor Minister cautioned that while the workers may have legitimate concerns, engaging in unauthorized strike actions could undermine their case.
He emphasized that there are established legal procedures for declaring a strike, including providing prior notice to the Ministry of Labour and allowing the Ministry an opportunity to intervene before any industrial action is undertaken.
At the same time, Minister Kruah encouraged the management of ArcelorMittal Liberia to consider providing permanent employment opportunities to some of the former AFCON workers, many of whom contributed to various construction activities for the company.
He noted that with AFCON nearing completion of its projects, AML could help ease tensions by absorbing qualified Liberian workers, in line with the Government’s commitment to promoting employment opportunities for Liberians.
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