Monrovia-The voices of over 1,400 aggrieved plantation employees have been echoed in a judgement handed down by the Labour Commissioner of Bomi County, in opposition to Mano Oil Palm Plantation, ordering the corporate to right away repay all wages wrongfully deducted from staff since February 2020.
By Willie N. Tokpah
The case, argued in favor of the affected employees by Atty. Musa M.B. Kanneh and his authorized staff mark a watershed second within the battle for labour justice in Liberia.
“It is a victory not only for my shoppers, however for each Liberian employee who has suffered in silence,” stated Atty. Kanneh is following the ruling.
“The regulation is obvious, change of administration isn’t any excuse to undermine the livelihood of hard-working residents.”
The case stems from a proper grievance filed on February 3, by employees of the Mano Oil Palm Plantation working in each Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties.
The grievance, submitted to Bomi County Labour Commissioner J. Jusu Sumo, alleged that the brand new administration, after taking on from Sime Darby in early 2020, unilaterally and unlawfully slashed employees’ wages with out rationalization.
Regardless of constant efforts by employees to hunt redress, their claims have been dismissed or ignored, plunging households into hardship and deteriorating working circumstances.
Authorized Arguments and Violations
Atty. Kanneh, together with a talented staff of labour attorneys, Moses Ok. Godoe, Jr., and Saye Guannu Gbanlekpeh, anchored their case on clear violations of ⁰the Respectable Work Act of 2015, notably Chapter 13, Part 13.4 and Chapter 16, Sections 16.1 by way of 16.6.
These provisions collectively safeguard staff’ wages and keep their employment rights regardless of modifications in administration or firm possession.
The authorized staff supplied irrefutable proof, together with payslips and employment contracts, displaying sustained and unjustified deductions throughout 5 years.
Moreover, the staff uncovered the plantation’s failure to current any legitimate labour documentation to defend its actions, an omission that closely influenced the ultimate ruling.
Labour Commissioner’s Closing Willpower
After months of authorized proceedings and two formal hearings, Commissioner Sumo issued a precedent-setting choice on August 26, affirming the employees’ rights and declaring the total reimbursement of all wrongfully deducted wages from February 2020 to the current, quick halt to all unauthorized wage deductions, and a 5-thousand USD ($5,000 USD) high-quality imposed on Mano Oil Palm Plantation for willful obstruction of the investigation and failure to supply related labor paperwork.
Commissioner Sumo emphasised, “No employer, no matter measurement or energy, is above the regulation.”
He stated defending employees stays a sacred obligation below the Labour Ministry.
False Claims Dismantled
Mano Oil Palm Plantation, by way of its authorized consultant Cllr. Gibson D. Manntan, claimed that every one employees’ advantages had been paid by earlier administration (Sime Darby) and cited a supposed prior ruling by the Ministry of Justice.
Nevertheless, when pressed for proof by the Labour Commissioner, no documentation or official ruling could possibly be supplied, additional weakening their place.
Furthermore, the argument {that a} Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) existed between the brand new administration and employees failed below scrutiny.
The authorized staff for the employees argued that no such MOU can override statutory labour rights enshrined within the nationwide regulation.
The ruling has sparked waves of jubilation throughout Bomi County and past.
Native union leaders hailed the choice as a uncommon however much-needed instance of the federal government standing firmly on the facet of atypical employees.
Labour rights teams have known as on the Ministry to implement the ruling swiftly and guarantee Mano Oil Palm Plantation complies with all monetary and authorized obligations.
With over 1,434 staff impacted by the wage reductions, the full restitution owed by Mano Oil Palm Plantation is estimated to run into thousands and thousands of Liberian {Dollars}. This quantity won’t solely restore financial dignity to tons of of households but additionally function a stark warning to employers violating labour legal guidelines below the guise of company restructuring.
For Legal professional Kanneh and his staff, the battle is much from over.
“We’ll stay vigilant to make sure full enforcement of this ruling and proceed advocating for authorized reforms that put employees first,” he harassed.
In the meantime, Mano Oil Plantation introduced an enchantment, following the Judgement handed down by the Ministry of Labour.
Nevertheless, when contacted by way of cell phone a Senior employees of Mano Oil Plantation Liberia, solely recognized as Wollo, knowledgeable FrontPageAfrica that Mano Oil Plantation Liberia has not obtained a replica of the ruling from their authorized staff. He stated the corporate’s authorized staff has not but taken an enchantment.
