By Moses J. Dawoe
-Maryland (freelance)
The recent layoff of 37 employees at the Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC) has sparked growing concern among citizens and workers in Maryland County.
The company, a key player in rubber production in the region, has been facing financial difficulties, exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the redundancies.
The decision to lay off workers has raised alarm across the county, with calls for government intervention to address the issue and prevent further economic strain on the local community.
In an interview with the president of the Workers’ Union, on November 18, 2024, at his office in CRC, he provided further insight into the situation.
According to Paul W. Dweh, the CRC management initially planned to lay off 59 employees as early as October 2022, a measure aimed at addressing the financial challenges the company has been grappling with since the pandemic.
“The company started informing affected workers about the redundancy in August 2024,” Mr. Dweh explained. “While this move is within the bounds of the Decent Work Act of 2015, it has nonetheless caused distress in the community.”
Mr. Dweh, who is also the President of GAAWUL Local 3, drew a comparison to a similar redundancy crisis faced by the company in the past.
He noted that during the tenure of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bhofal Chambers, a redundancy crisis had been managed effectively; something that Dweh believes the current representative, Anthony F. Williams, has failed to do.
“Bhofal Chambers worked with the administration and resolved a similar issue when he was the representative of Pleebo-Sodoken District. Unfortunately, we have not seen that kind of intervention from the current representative,” Dweh said.
Dweh also emphasized that the redundancy process at CRC is being carried out in accordance with the Decent Work Act, specifically Section 14.5, which covers employment termination due to redundancy.
This provision allows for the reduction of staff in situations such as business reorganizations, closures, or financial crises.
While the company initially planned to lay off 59 employees, Dweh shared that the union successfully negotiated a reduction in the number of redundancies to 37.
This outcome, he said, was a major success for the union and helped reduce potential public outcry.
“By reducing the layoffs, we were able to ease some of the economic concerns in the community. We’re doing everything we can to minimize the negative impact,” Dweh added.
Dweh reported that Liberia’s Minister of Labor, Cooper Krauh, was briefed on the matter and has given his consent to the redundancy plan on behalf of the Government of Liberia.
Despite these efforts, Dweh expressed frustration with the lack of support from the local leadership.
He criticized Anthony F. Williams, the current district representative, for not reaching out to the union to address the concerns of the workers.
“It is the duty of the district representative to engage with workers and address their concerns. Unfortunately, that has not happened,” Dweh said.
The issue of layoffs is not new to the region. Dweh pointed out that during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2008-2009), more than 150 workers were laid off without provoking such a strong public reaction.
He noted that the circumstances, however, were handled in a way that minimized unrest.
As the redundancy crisis continues, GAAWUL has called on the government, local representatives, and CRC management to work together to ensure that the remaining workforce is protected and that the social and economic impacts on the community are mitigated.
