-Hundreds of workers painfully get redundancy letters
The management of the Asian-owned Sime Darby oil palm plantation in Western Liberia says its action to lay off some 350 workers in August is due to economic and other reasons beyond its control, but it is not acting outside the laws.
“We present our complements and regret that due to economic reasons and other circumstances beyond our control, you are hereby declared redundant as of August 10, 2019 in line with Chapter 14 Section 5 of the Decent Work Act, 2015 and Article 19 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement of Sime Darby Plantation (Liberia) Inc and General Agriculture & Allied Workers Union of Liberia (GAAWUL),” one of many redundancy letters from the Sime Darby’s management says.
The name of the worker receiving, which we’ve published, has been shaded for obvious reasons to protect the privacy of the individual, although the broader socio-economic implications of the current developments at the plantation is national in scope, as the fate of thousands of dependents remains in limbo.
By next month (August) schools across Liberia will begin gearing up for the registration process for the 2019/2019 academic years, when fees in private schools are most likely to go up giving the escalating inflation in the country.
This Asian oil palm plantation, which began operations in Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties several years ago, is joining a list of other concession companies in the country that has in recent times laid off hundreds of workers, as the Liberian economy sinks deeper into crisis.
Sime Darby’s management has said the company is financially challenged and that it is going through serious constraints due to the poor business climate.
In its redundancy letters to the hundreds of affected workers, the management said the affected employees have been given a one-month notice as of July 10, 2017 and they should report to the Human Resource department for their severance benefits or compensation. This include one month for each year of service, including transportation, as spelled out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement and any unpaid accrued salaries and or benefits.
Furthermore, the company has mandated those expected to be laid off to turn over their working ID card any company property in their possession and turn over the company’s house they are currently occupying if they were given any.
Meanwhile, redundant workers of Sime Darby have been given fifteen days from the operational date of notice to vacate the company’s premises they are occupying
The letters to them say that if they fail to comply, the company shall institute the appropriate action. Report by Our Staff Writer and Never G. Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com