Liberia: Senator Decries Redundancy of 400 Employees By CHICO in Rivergee County

MONROVIA – The Senate Committee Chairman on Labour, Mathew N. Jaye, has decried what he called the “unwarranted” redundancy of 400 employees by CHICO in River Gee County.

CHICO is a Chinese company that is involved in the construction of roads in the country.  Currently, CHICO is carrying out the pavement of roads in River Gee County.    

In a weekend interview with reporters at his Capitol Building Office  in Monrovia, Senator Jaye averred that CHICO redundant the 400 employees under the canopy of  the COVID-19 and the heavy down pour of rain.

The Capitol Building is the seat of the Liberian Legislature.

Lawmaker Jaye, who represents River Gee County at the Liberian Senate on an independent ticket, expressed serious outrage over the Chinese company’s action, describing it as “unwarranted and sinister”.   

“What is most astonishing is that CHICO  is  carrying out serious operations in River Gee County  despite the coronavirus pandemic and  the heavy down pour of rain. And  on the other hand, the Chinese company  is employing  new people,”  the River Gee  Senator further averred. 

According to him,  the  Labour Law  states  that whenever  people   are redundant and the company  that carried  out the redundancy beings to recruit, those redundant are first considered for employment, but this was not the case with the 400 employees redundant by CHICO.     

“The redundancy of the 400 employees came after the workers formed a union and subsequently engaged the CHICO management on a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as it relates to their welfare. Apparently not satisfied and felt threated by such move, the Chinese  company took such action as most of those who were redundant  were the architects of  the formation of the workers union,” the River Gee Senator told reporters.

He said it was incomprehensible and frustrating for  an international company that should be buttressing the Government of Liberia(GoL) efforts  in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in the country to redundant such huge number of  people at the time countries around the world, including Liberia have been unhelpfully crippled economically by the  deadly disease.

He lamented that the redundant CHICO  employees, most of whom were “bread winners” for their families,  are  finding  lives  very  unbearable as they are  roaming   the street  of River Gee County looking  for their  “daily bread”.

Against this backdrop, the Senate Committee Chairman on Labour vowed to present the plight of the redundant CHICO employees to the plenary of the Liberian Senate for prompt redress.

The plenary is the highest decision making body of the Liberian Senate.

Senator Jaye disclosed that he will also include what he referred to as credible information available to him that the management of Firestone-Liberia is poised to redundant several of its employees.

An official communication dated June 24, 2020 and addressed to Mr. Abraham D. Nimene , President of the Agriculture, Agro-Processing and Industrial Workers Union of Liberia(AAIWUL) by the management of Firestone-Liberia via its Director, Human Resources,  Madam Winleta  A. Henries,  a copy of which was given  to the media,  informed AAIWUL of its Anticipated Personnel Reductions at Firestone-Liberia.

“As per previous discussions with you and members of the union. Firestone-Liberia’s operations continue to face serious challenges, and as a result, our management team must make necessary decisions to help ensure the viability of the company in Liberia.  As part of the above referenced decisions, Firestone-Liberia anticipates a reduction in its workforce headcount of approximately Three Seventy-Four (374) employees, primarily from our Estate Department,” the communication further informed AAIWUL.

According to the communication, the effective date of this redundancy action is scheduled  for July 26, 2020.

As we prepare for this process,  we respectfully  request  the cooperation of the union, to ensure that the same is conducted in a manner that is consistent with the laws of the Republic of Liberia, but more importantly, so that these difficult decisions cause the least adverse impact to those directly affected,” the communication, among  other things, added.

However, AAIWUL, in response,  categorically rejected  the Anticipated Notice of Redundancy.     

“Firestone-Liberia calculated attempt to burst the Union by turning gainful employees into casual laborers through these redundancy notices is deceptive and only meant to motivate corporate greed at the expense of the ordinary workers whose labors generate wealth,” the communication  dated June 26, 2020 and addressed to  the AAIWUL leadership,  a copy of which was also given  to the media,  stated.              

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee Chairman on Labour has expressed fear that  the CHICO  redundant  saga and the  expected  Firestone-Liberia layoff,   if not addressed urgently  by the  government, could  pose serious threat to  the peace and stability of the country,  adding: “ Jobless people are angry people”.

At the same time, the River Gee lawmaker  thanked the  GoL- the single largest employer in the public sector  for the  bold the steps it took  to  ensure that all non-essential  employees, who were  asked to stay home in keeping  with social distance and the  adherence of other key health protocols,  are being paid why they are home. He described the move by the GoL as  highly commendable  and must be hailed by all Liberians irrespective of their  political, social and   religion backgrounds.