PHOTO: Atty. Saah J. Nyumah, the workers’ Lawyer
By Mark N. Mengonfia- mmenginfia@gmail.com
The Labor Standard Division at Liberia’s Labor Ministry has ruled in favor of redundant employees of Alfalit Liberia in a severance benefits case the employees filed with the ministry.
Hearing Officer Boakai Sheriff said in his summary judgment that defendant (Alfalit International) conceded to paying to pay the redundant employees 56,050.00 USD.
The former workers Alfalit Liberia and administration of institution have been locked down in a legal battle for months, Atty. John Saah Nyumah of Global Law Partners and Associates, a lawyer representing the employees’ interest said in an interview upon receiving the ruling.
A communication in our possession and addressed to Assistant Minister for Labor Standards Atty. Welma B. Sampson and written by Acting Executive Director of Alfalit International Liberia, Jerome C. Williams indicates that the Alfalit Board of Directors has appealed for extension of the due date on payments of severance and benefits to the aggrieved and redundant staff of Alfalit International –Liberia.
Mr. Williams said in his communication that Alfalit International was reviewing status of Alfalit International-Liberia and all other affiliates in the world. Following the ruling, the spokesperson of the aggrieved and redundant workers of Alfalit International –Liberia. Evelyn Seagbeh said,” it is good to test the laws” adding that during the days of legal battles, she usually told her colleagues that the legal way was the best way and not violence.
“Some of our friends wanted to use us to demonstrate, damage properties of the Institution, but I kept telling them that the law is the law” Madam Seagbeh said. She praised their legal team represented by the Global Law Partners and Associates for the legal fight which resulted into their victory after many months.
Speaking earlier, Atty. John Saah Nyumah of Global Law Partners and Associates said legally, the defendant [ management of Alfalit] has all rights to take an appeal but he said that he was convinced that the institution knows that they are in the wrong so the possibility of taking an appeal cannot work in such case.
He furthered that the management consented and there is no objection or counter objection in the ruling by the Ministry. Atty. Nyumah during the interview after his legal victory called on the aggrieved and redundant staff of Alfalit International Liberia to remain peaceful as they have conducted themselves over the past months.
Based on the ruling, the sixteen (16) affected employees are expected be paid according to how long they served the institution. Some of the workers worked for 14, 12, 11, 10, 7,5,4, and 2 years according to Mrs.
Alfalit management during the legal fights was headed by Jerome Williams.
When he was contacted to speak on the verdict he said via telephone that “What I know is that we all were employed with this group and unfortunatel. I speak all of us don’t have contract now; myself do not have anything doing. I am out of town trying to hustle for something to do.”