Monrovia – A startling contradiction between two senior Liberian authorities officers has stirred nationwide confusion over the variety of overseas staff employed by ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), elevating issues about inter-agency coordination and the credibility of official labor statistics.
The controversy flared Thursday throughout separate public appearances by Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper Kruah and Civil Service Company (CSA) Director Normal Josiah Joekai, who provided sharply divergent figures relating to AML’s overseas workforce.
At a press briefing hosted by the Ministry of Data, Labor Minister Kruah disclosed that simply over 1,500 overseas nationals presently work for ArcelorMittal, primarily in technical roles linked to the corporate’s Part II enlargement undertaking. He emphasised that these expatriates are employed in specialised engineering and development roles required for the continuing growth of AML’s new iron ore concentrator, the improve of the Yekepa-to-Buchanan railway, and enhancements to the Port of Buchanan.
Nevertheless, whereas Minister Kruah’s remarks have been nonetheless circulating within the press, a conflicting narrative emerged from Capitol Hill. Throughout a presentation to the Liberian Senate, CSA Director Joekai claimed that over 3,000 overseas nationals—particularly “Indians”—are working for ArcelorMittal “by means of an organization beneath the concession.”
Joekai’s assertion raised eyebrows, particularly on condition that the CSA doesn’t have direct oversight over private-sector employment. He didn’t disclose the supply of his information, nor did he make clear which roles he believed had been improperly assigned to foreigners as an alternative of certified Liberians.
“Many of those people are occupying jobs that Liberians will not be solely able to doing however are additionally certified for,” Joekai alleged.
His feedback, although unverified, have been swiftly amplified on social media. Nimba County Senator Nya Twayen, who has just lately taken a vocal stance in opposition to ArcelorMittal following the dedication of its concentrator, posted on Fb: “CSA Boss testifying on the Senate: There are 3,000 Indians working with ArcelorMittal doing jobs that Liberians needs to be doing.”
Labor Minister Kruah promptly pushed again in a subsequent interview, reminding the general public that issues referring to private-sector labor, together with work permits for expatriates, fall solely beneath the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Labor—not the CSA. He dismissed Joekai’s assertions as unauthorized and probably deceptive.
With the 2 prime officers from the ruling Unity Occasion providing wildly totally different numbers, confusion mounted.
In an effort to make clear the state of affairs, ArcelorMittal Liberia granted unique entry to FrontPageAfrica to independently confirm its employment information. The data reviewed by FPA current a unique image from Joekai’s claims.
As of the newest reporting date, full-time workers (FTEs) is 2,848. Of this Liberians employee are 2,555 (90%), expatriates: 293 (10%). Fastened-Time period & Contractor Employees (as of April 30, 2025) is 6,147. Of this, Liberians are 4,705 (77%) and expatriates: 1,442 (23%).
Whole Workforce 8,995, and Liberians: 7,260 (81%), whereas expatriates: 1,735 (19%).
In line with AML, the expatriates are primarily specialists engaged on engineering, development, and infrastructure tasks beneath the enlargement section—roles for which native experience stays restricted.
The official information confirmed by FPA raises severe questions: The place did Joekai’s determine of three,000 overseas staff—particularly “Indians”—originate? And why was it offered with out validation?
Some observers are urging warning and calling on the CSA to provide verifiable, company-specific employment information—ideally sourced from the Ministry of Labor’s official work allow registry—whether it is to substantiate such claims.
Observers say the discrepancy has ignited widespread debate and uncovered a troubling lack of coordination among the many authorities our bodies tasked with labor regulation and oversight.
Extra broadly, the episode underscores a deeper concern: Are Liberia’s authorities establishments working from a unified, credible set of labor information? Till this query is resolved, the general public is left questioning who to belief.
Caught within the crossfire of confusion, the Liberian Senate might now be compelled to hunt unbiased verification of AML’s workforce numbers to revive public confidence and guarantee accountability.
