By Linus Flomo
/Bassa
Workers at the Krish Veneer Plywood Factory in Grand Bassa County are reportedly laboring under hazardous and exploitative conditions, raising alarm over serious breaches of Liberia’s labor laws.
According to multiple accounts, factory employees are toiling without formal contracts, food provisions, or adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), despite being exposed daily to thick clouds of harmful dust.
Many workers allegedly operate without nose masks or respiratory protection conditions that put their health at severe risk.
“It’s like we are being slowly poisoned,” said one worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
“We breathe in dust all day without any kind of protection.”
The workers’ plight extends beyond health risks. Employees earn a paltry US$5.50 per day, amounting to just US$143 per month barely enough to cover basic living expenses.
With no transport support from the company, workers are forced to finance their daily commute out of their already meager wages.
Additionally, the factory offers no meals, compelling employees to use their limited income to feed themselves.
More troubling is the factory’s apparent disregard for Liberia’s labor laws. Chapter 8, Section 1 of the Labor Laws of Liberia requires employers to provide written contracts to all workers.
These contracts are vital in ensuring job security and protecting workers’ rights.
The same laws mandate that companies maintain safe working environments and supply appropriate safety equipment.
During a recent inspection, Grand Bassa County Superintendent Karyou Johnson confronted factory management over these alleged violations.
The management admitted they had failed to issue written contracts for the past three months, but claimed they were working to rectify the situation.
However, there have been no immediate signs of improvement in working conditions.
Superintendent Johnson has since tasked Deputy Commissioner of Labor Brownell Pailey with investigating the matter and taking swift action to bring the company into compliance with national labor standards.
“This is unacceptable,” Johnson said. “We must ensure that our workers are treated with dignity and respect, and that the laws of this country are upheld.”
The allegations have sparked widespread concern across the county, with community leaders and labor advocates calling for stronger enforcement of labor regulations.
They warn that without meaningful intervention, the situation could set a dangerous precedent for workers’ rights across Liberia.
