By Elijah Easter Kaykay
Tensions flared in Grand Bassa County on Thursday as
aggrieved former employees of Wilson Bayly Holmes Ovcon (WBHO) staged a protest
that escalated into a hostage situation.
900000The workers, demanding long-overdue severance and
benefits, held the company’s Human Resource Officer hostage for several hours
inside a vehicle at the Grand Bassa Administrative Building.
Eyewitnesses described the protest as highly charged, with
demonstrators expressing frustration over what they say are broken promises and
prolonged silence from the company. The incident attracted a large crowd and
media coverage, bringing renewed attention to labor grievances within the
county.
“We’ve waited for too long. They laid us off, and now they
refuse to pay us what we’re owed,” said one protester, who asked not to be
named. “This is the only way we can get them to listen.”
The HR officer was reportedly unhurt and later released
following hours of tense negotiations involving local authorities, company
representatives, and leaders of the protesting workers.
While the immediate crisis was defused, the workers’ demands
remain unmet. The incident has raised serious concerns about labor practices,
corporate accountability, and the enforcement of workers’ rights in Liberia’s
private sector.
Labor rights advocates and community members are now calling
for swift government intervention to ensure that the workers receive their
rightful compensation and that such incidents do not recur.
“This is not just about one company,” said a local civil
society representative. “It’s about how we treat workers across the board. If
we don’t enforce fair labor standards, these situations will continue.”
As the situation develops, affected workers and advocacy
groups vow to continue pushing for justice, hoping the dramatic events of May
15 will serve as a wake-up call for stronger labor protection.
