By: Melvin Flomo
WhatsApp: 0778677647
Monrovia, Liberia – February 22, 2026 — Forty-four workers at SIGMA Group Liberia Ltd. in Grand Bassa County have received long-overdue wage arrears and other benefits following months of sustained advocacy led by the Liberia Labour and Governance Alliance (LILGA).
The breakthrough came on February 21, 2026, at the ORANGE GSM Data Center construction site in Buchanan City, where affected employees gathered as compensation payments were disbursed. However, twenty-one additional workers are still awaiting settlement, with LILGA reaffirming its commitment to ensure full payment for all affected staff.
Background of the Dispute
The dispute stemmed from alleged violations of Liberia’s Decent Work Act, affecting sixty-four Liberian workers assigned to the project. According to LILGA, the complaints included unpaid overtime and holiday wages, excessive working hours, lack of written employment contracts, unsafe working and living conditions, and the absence of basic protective equipment and safe drinking water.
Over several months, LILGA formally notified and sought intervention from key authorities, including the Minister of Labour, the Assistant Minister for Labour Standards, the Inspector General of Labour, and the Deputy Minister for Manpower Development, Planning and Human Resource.
Despite these communications, LILGA reported that no Labour Commissioner intervened, the Department of Labour Standards declined to act, and the Inspector General’s office did not provide enforcement support. The situation eventually led to a go-slow action by workers at the site.
In response to the institutional inaction, LILGA escalated the matter directly to management and notified the recognized bargaining agent, the Agricultural Agro-Processing and Industrial Workers Union of Liberia (AAIWUL), urging urgent intervention.
Breakthrough and Agreement
Following negotiations, management of SIGMA Group Liberia Ltd. agreed to a series of corrective measures. In addition to compensating 44 workers for outstanding wage arrears, the company committed to installing a safety and first aid room at the project site, providing USD $10 daily for safe drinking water, supplying safety shoes to workers, and implementing a new time-keeping and record system, which has already taken effect.
LILGA acknowledged the willingness of SIGMA Group’s management and AAIWUL to engage constructively to resolve the dispute, describing the outcome as a demonstration of the effectiveness of dialogue and collective bargaining.
A Milestone for Labour Advocacy
LILGA Executive Director George S. Tengbeh said the resolution represents more than financial compensation, emphasizing that the issue was also about worker dignity, safety, and accountability in the workplace.
The organization described the development as a significant milestone for labour justice in Liberia, underscoring the role of organized advocacy and civil society engagement in enforcing workers’ rights.
LILGA said it will continue working with AAIWUL to ensure that the remaining 21 workers receive their full compensation without delay. Monitoring efforts will also remain in place to ensure that the company fulfills its newly agreed safety and welfare commitments.
The case, advocates say, sends a strong message that labour rights in Liberia can be upheld when workers organize and pursue lawful channels of redress.
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