MONROVIA – The Plenary of the House of Representatives, acting upon the recommendations of its joint Committee on Mines, Energy, Environment and Health has requested ArcelorMittal (AML) Liberia to “unconditionally” reinstate all redundant and illegally dismissed workers.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh 00231777769531/00231880881540/[email protected]
Arcelor Mittal, between 2015 and 2016 significantly laid off most its workers owing to “continuing unfavorable market conditions and changes to the company’s operating model”.
But the joint Committee, following an intensive investigation of the AML’s operations in Liberia found the company liable of grossly violating the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) it signed with the Government of Liberia and called on the company to put back the workers to their previous positions within a period of four months.
“All redundant employees who were issued letters by AML Management with the hope of reinstating them when conditions improve should be unconditionally reinstated to their various existing positions without technicality of nomenclature within the period not exceeding four months and those contractors whose contracts were breached should be appropriately paid within the same period,” the joint Committee recommends.
The committee called for illegally dismissed employees to be reinstated immediately and those who inherited medical problems as a result of the job and considered physically incapable based on medical advice to be appropriately compensated.
In addition, the company is mandated to do away with the term “permanent contractor which contradicts the fair labor practices and labor laws of Liberia and citizens considered in said categories should be employed within two months; while all unskilled laborers should be recruited from the affected communities around the areas of operations.”
In the recruitment of skilled laborers, plenary also wants citizens of affected communities to be given the first preference in the case where they have the required skills and professionalism.
The joint Committee’s investigation was prompted by a complaint from Rep. Joseph N. Somwarbi (Nimba District #3) on March 19; asking the House to probe into the alleged violations of the MDA by AML.
A committee was subsequently set up by plenary on the same date to conduct a full-fledged investigation and report back.
The investigation which began in June, covered the company’s entire operation areas including Bong, Grand Bassa and Nimba counties.
The Committee, in its findings reported that AML has failed to construct a processor or washing plant at the Gangra mines in Nimba County; something it should have done within two years of its operation as enshrined in the MDA to maximize the production of iron ore.
The committee noted that the failure to build the plant is not only a breach of contract, but is “intentionally wasting or carelessly and inappropriately stock piling ores as high as 56 percent as low-grade stock pile unprotected
“AML, due to the lack of the concentrator couldn’t distinguish the actual percentage from low grade to waste and is only mining what is term as direct shipping ore. The percentage of natural iron ore regarded by AML as low grade or stock pile can be termed as waste of the country’s natural resources and revenue. We believe with modern technology or the concentrator, more ores can be mined and ship out of Liberia, thereby creating more revenues and job for the citizen,” the Committee noted.
In addition, the committee, among other things called for a total review of the MDA between both parties, frequent monitoring of concessions by the government, the rehabilitation or construction of rails, roads, bridges, houses, hospitals as well as other vital structures (work shop, hand pumps, water treatment plant, and the power plant) to ensure appropriate accommodation with available safe drinking pipe bone water and effective power supply in all the AML operational communities (Nimba, Bong, and Bassa) within a period of one year.
It also called for a guaranteed agreement between “the private land owners and ArcelorMittal within all of their areas of operations in Nimba, Bong and Bassa with the full involvement of their direct representatives from those electoral districts within three months; while records for the US$200,000 Scholarship to train Liberians outside of the country and the US$50,000 support that should be provided to the Nimba County Community College should be made available to the office of Hon. Joseph N. Somwarbi and other relevant authorities and that of the specified US$284,175.00 be made available to the office of Hon. Albert B. Hills, Jr. (Grand Bassa lawmaker) and other relevant authorities upon official request to AML Management.”