Monrovia, Liberia – What began in April as a quiet petition for better working conditions has now drawn nationwide attention, as employees of the National Beverages/Trust Services Company (TSC) allege they have faced mass dismissals, unfair treatment, and even police harassment.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
For many of the workers, the dispute is not just about salaries or contracts – it is about dignity on the job. Some say they have worked as “casual laborers” for more than six years without the stability of permanent employment, despite guarantees in Liberia’s Decent Work Act and a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in January.
“Labor is not free, not cheap and not a commodity,” union leaders of the National Union of Hospitality, Aviation, Communication and Energy Workers (NUHACE) reminded management in a letter earlier this year.
Since then, tensions have grown over reported unpaid retroactive salaries, delayed benefits, with workers further alleging unsafe conditions, lack of protective gear and inadequate medical care. At the same time, some women employees have also raised concerns about harassment in the workplace.
The dispute came to a head in late July, when workers staged a peaceful strike at the company’s Monrovia Industrial Park facility. The next day, police moved in.
NUHACE claims several employees were beaten, detained longer than legally allowed, and later charged in court. Shortly afterward, more than 60 workers – including the union’s entire local leadership – were dismissed.
Spotlight on Trust Services Company
Much of the controversy has turned toward the role of Trust Services Company, an employment agency set up.
Although it has long recruited and assigned workers to companies across Liberia, critics have questioned its legal standing and the special leeway it reportedly enjoys from the Ministry of Labor.
Ministry of Labor Under Scrutiny
The Ministry of Labor, too, is facing criticism. NUHACE has accused the Ministry of dragging its feet during mediation, effectively giving management time to ignore workers’ grievances. In a letter, the union said the Ministry’s silence amounted to “agreement in the abuse of workers’ fundamental rights.”
Calls for Wider Action
With trust in the mediation process eroding, NUHACE has vowed to escalate the case to the Legislature, the International Labor Organization (ILO), and even President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s office.
This is not the first time Liberia has come under scrutiny for its labor practices. Both the ILO and the U.S. State Department’s Human Rights Report have flagged recurring concerns about workers’ rights and trade union freedoms.
TSC’s Response
When contacted for comments on the workers’ concerns, TSC’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Papa Kamara, said nothing much could be said on the record to avoid prejudice as the matter is before the Labor Court and a ruling is expected within a few days.
“We can’t say anything much now or hold any interview on the issue now until the Ministry of Labor comes out with its ruling on Wednesday. From there, we will then know what to do or what action to take. But again, thank you for your high level of professionalism. You people have made all efforts to get to me to speak to the matter; it’s commendable.
