AFCONS Activities To Be Shut Down In Buchanan, If… -As Fmr Workers Call Attention For Prolong Benefits

By Linus Flomo
/BASSA
A dramatic standoff gripped the port city of Buchanan early Tuesday morning after a group of former employees of AFCONS Liberia staged a protest over unpaid social security benefits, thereby seizing three buses belonging to the company.
The buses, now stationed within the compound of the Grand Bassa County administrative building, were commandeered by the former workers aimed at drawing attention to their plight. The protesters, many of whom claim to have worked with the company for over a decade have accused AFCONS of failing to remit their long-overdue benefits following the end of their employment.
The roots of the conflict trace back to what the workers describe as a troubling shift in the company’s handling of social security contributions while according to them, their benefits were previously handled in good faith.
The former employees now alleged that efforts to access their contributions have been blocked, with little clarity from either the company or government officials.
“We worked hard for our benefits. We deserve what is rightfully ours,” said one of the aggrieved protesters, who asked not to be named. “Some of us have been here since 2010. We gave this company our energy, our time and now we’re left with nothing to show for it.”
According to the workers, AFCONS has claimed that all contributions were made to a government’s account and that, since the workers are no longer on the company’s payroll, the responsibility now lies with the government to transfer the benefits into the individual accounts of the former employees.
However, the workers argued that this explanation has failed to address the delays and opacity surrounding their claims.
In pursuit of redress, the group said they have repeatedly appealed to the Labor Commissioner of Grand Bassa County.
Despite these efforts, they reported that no action has been taken to resolve the dispute. Feeling stonewalled, they have escalated their demands and now threaten to shut down all AFCONS operations in the county if their benefits are not paid.
“We are not going to move from here until something is done,” said another protester. “If we have to block their offices, their sites we will.”
The protest has cast a spotlight on broader issues facing workers across Liberia, particularly around the enforcement of social security laws and the mechanisms available for post-employment benefit claims.
With frustrations mounting and tempers flaring, calls are growing louder for the national government to intervene before the situation spirals further.
Neither AFCONS Liberia nor government officials have issued a public statement as of press time.
As the impasse continues, Buchanan remains on edge, with observers warning that the situation could worsen unless meaningful steps are taken to address the workers’ grievances.
Meanwhile, Grand Bassa Superintendent Karyou Johnson has directed AFCONS Company and the National Social Security Corporation (NASSCORP) to expedite the processing of social security benefits for both current and former workers.
Superintendent Johnson criticized the delay in providing social security identification cards to affected workers and the lack of communication about salary deductions and benefits remittance.
He held both AFCONS and NASSCORP accountable for failing to educate workers on the matter though NASSCORP’s Regional Director, Gbeh Montgomery, confirmed that AFCONS had made the required payments, but workers had not been properly informed.
In a meeting at the Administrative Building, attended by Labor Commissioner Jackson Qouigbian and the County Attorney, all parties agreed to begin addressing the issue. The process will start this week at the NASSCORP regional office in Buchanan.