WBHO Workers Rally Over Unpaid Wages And Labor Abuses
PHOTO: Aggrieved workers of WBHO holding Placards as part of their protest action
Justice must prevail today. Stop bad labour practice- placards say
By King Brown,sarwahking@gmail.com
Buchanan, Liberia – A wave of unrest has once again swept through Grand Bassa County, as a group of aggrieved workers from Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) have staged a peaceful protest, accusing the South African construction firm of persistent labor violations..
Unlike past demonstrations, Monday’s protest here was held within the company’s concession area, this time the workers marched to the Grand Bassa County administrative building, where local government officials, including Superintendent Karyou Johnson, have their offices. The workers are demanding immediate government intervention into what they describe as “exploitative and degrading” labor practices.
WBHO is a sub-contractor to ArcelorMittal Liberia, handling significant operations related to railroad maintenance and construction in Grand Bassa. The company has been under scrutiny for several years due to recurring allegations of labor rights violations.
“We Have Been Ignored Too Long”
At the forefront of Monday’s protest was Mr. Windell Verdier, a spokesperson for the workers and one of the leading voices calling for change.
“For over two years, we have consistently raised our concerns with the company and with the Labor Commissioner’s office,” Verdier told reporters. “Yet nothing has changed. Our complaints are ignored, and the suffering continues.”
Verdier says the protestors, made up of both current and former WBHO employees, have exhausted formal channels in seeking redress. The workers allege unpaid overtime, wrongful wage deductions, withheld leave entitlements, and denial of employment contracts.
“This is no longer just about money,” Verdier continued. “It’s about dignity. It’s about being treated like human beings and not disposable tools.”
Long Hours, Low Pay
Many of the protesters here say they work 11-hour shifts, six days a week, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. but receive as little as US$200 per month, far below what they say was initially promised.
“We were told our salaries would be at least US$325 a month,” said one worker, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. “Instead, some of us receive less than US$200. There’s no explanation, and no room to complain.”
Several of the workers claim that they have not received a single salary increment since being hired, despite serving for over ten months and taking on greater responsibilities.
The workers also say they were never given formal employment contracts, leaving them without documentation to verify the terms of their employment or challenge mistreatment through legal means.
Violations of Labor Law
The protesters here say the company’s actions violate Liberia’s Decent Work Act of 2015, which mandates fair wages, proper compensation for overtime, earned leave, and safe working environments. The law, which aligns with international labor standards, is intended to protect all workers in Liberia, especially those employed in the private sector.
“Liberian labor laws are weak in implementation,” Verdier argued. “The law exists, but the people responsible for enforcing it, especially in private sector cases, are either too slow or too compromised.”