Western Cluster Liberia Limited, a significant player in Liberia’s iron ore mining industry, is facing serious allegations regarding its labor practices and treatment of the local community. An investigation by the New Dawn newspaper has revealed troubling instances of labor malpractice, including alleged unpaid salaries for workers and significant damage to towns near the mining operations. Residents of Borbor Town and Bola Town have reported structural damage to homes and buildings due to vibrations from mining blasts. Disturbingly, these operations have even resulted in physical harm to local residents, such as hearing impairment experienced by an elderly woman attributed to the ongoing blasts associated with the company’s activities.
The crux of the complaints against Western Cluster revolves around allegations that it owes employees several months’ worth of salaries, with some workers claiming they haven’t been compensated for the past four months. While company representatives argue that salary disbursements were stalled due to government restrictions, many employees report intimidation and negligent treatment from management. Workers are quoted expressing their grievances anonymously, claiming that their concerns are disregarded and that they have faced insults from the company officials, illustrating a distressing work environment rife with instability and fear.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a recent warning from the Ministry of Labor has targeted both Western Cluster and another major mining entity, Bea Mountain Mining Company. The ministry has drawn attention to the companies’ violations of labor agreements and highlighted significant disparities that disadvantage local workers. Despite its extensive operational presence and a long-term concession agreement to mine in Bomi County, Western Cluster employs only two Liberians directly, while over 500 others are relegated to precarious, outsourced positions that lack job security and stability. This subcontracting model exacerbates job insecurity, placing workers on short-term contracts and rendering them vulnerable.
Minister of Labor, Charles Kruah, has vocally condemned this lack of integration of Liberians into stable employment, emphasizing that it reflects a pattern of exploitation rather than investment in the local workforce. Kruah’s remarks underline the ministry’s commitment to holding concession companies accountable for their labor practices, stressing that it is unacceptable for such companies to sidestep their local obligations. In a call for more sustainable labor practices, Kruah indicated that the ministry would collaborate with the Bureau of Concessions to address these shortcomings and ensure that Liberians are not marginalized in their own economic landscape.
Moreover, Minister Kruah has pointed out that Western Cluster has largely neglected its corporate social responsibilities toward the local communities, failing to invest in essential services such as education and healthcare. The lack of schools and hospitals is a critical issue for the communities impacted by the mining operations, raising questions about the company’s overall commitment to the region’s well-being. The minister indicated that an extensive review of all concession agreements and labor practices is underway, with an emphasis on ensuring that Liberians gain meaningful participation in local economic activities.
In a recent interview, Joseph Coelho, the Chief Executive Officer of Western Cluster Liberia Limited, acknowledged the delay in salary payments to employees, attributing the failure to government-imposed restrictions. However, such a rationale does little to assuage the growing concerns among the local workforce and observers about the company’s adherence to labor rights and social responsibility. The ongoing scrutiny from both the Ministry of Labor and local communities underscores a critical need for comprehensive reforms in the mining sector that prioritize the rights and welfare of Liberian workers as well as the health of local communities. This situation calls for immediate action to address the systemic failures in labor relations and corporate responsibility present at Western Cluster Liberia Limited.
