Employees at Krish Veneer Industries Decry Bad Labor Practices, Calls for Urgent Government Swift Intervention

Grand Bassa County: Workers at Krish Veneer Industries, a plywood factory located in Harlandville, are alarmed over what they describe as ongoing and severe violations of labor rights.

The aggrieved employees accuse the company of mistreating its workforce and ignoring multiple complaints about poor conditions.

Reports from within the factory reveal that workers are being paid a daily wage of just US$5.50—an amount they claim is far below the standard required to support themselves and their families.

To make matters worse, employees allege that the company does not provide food during long working hours, leaving many of them to go hungry on the job.

In addition to low wages and a smooth working environment, the workers say they are forced to operate in an unsafe environment.

They report having to handle wood and machinery without protective gear and regularly inhaling hazardous dust from plywood production. The conditions, the workers argue, pose serious health risks and violate established safety regulations.

One of the most alarming complaints centers on the lack of written contracts, claiming that the company does not offer formal agreements outlining employment terms, a clear breach of Liberian labor laws.

Without valid contracts, employees say they have no job security and are frequently dismissed without cause or warning.

“This isn’t a new issue,” said one worker who requested anonymity. “We’ve been raising these concerns for a long time. The last time we filed a formal complaint was on April 23, 2025, but nothing has changed. We are tired of being ignored.”

Frustration has grown over what workers describe as a betrayal by Grand Bassa County’s Deputy Labor Commissioner, Brownell Pailey.

Instead of addressing their concerns, the aggrieved workers accused Pailey of taking sides with the company, making it more difficult for employees to be addressed.

Many say his actions—or lack thereof—are undermining the very office meant to protect workers’ rights.

Adding to the controversy, local journalists who tried to report on the matter were allegedly denied entry to the factory.

According to eyewitness accounts, security guards blocked media personnel from accessing the premises, raising suspicions of a deliberate effort to prevent the truth from coming out.

Several employees believe the media ban and the silence from authorities point to a wider cover-up. “If everything was okay, they wouldn’t block the press,” said another worker. “We feel like our voices are being silenced both inside and outside the factory.”

Despite multiple attempts by K-News to obtain a response, Deputy Labor Commissioner Brownell Pailey has declined to comment on the matter. His silence has only fueled further anger and suspicion among the workers.

As tensions rise, employees are now calling on the Ministry of Labor, the Liberia Labor Congress, and national human rights organizations to intervene immediately. They are demanding a full investigation into the factory’s practices and accountability for those enabling the abuse of labor rights.