“Crushed by Iron, Trapped in Poverty: Workers Cry Out Over ‘Modern Slavery’ Conditions at China Union Mine”

Monrovia, Liberia: Disturbing videos, photographs, and internal documents that recently surfaced have raised serious concerns about the treatment of workers at the China Union mining operation in Bong County.

The materials, obtained by Verity News, paint a troubling picture of what several employees describe as harsh working conditions, unsafe operations, and extremely low pay conditions some workers have gone as far as calling “modern slavery.”

One of the leaked videos reportedly shows a frightening moment during mining operations when a heavy piece of iron suddenly fell and struck a worker, leaving him badly injured. According to coworkers who spoke anonymously, the situation became even more alarming when it appeared that the site had no immediate emergency medical support to respond to the accident.

“They don’t even have a first-aid team here, yet they say this is a $2.6 billion investment,” one worker told Verity News. “How can a company this big operate with such poor safety measures?”

The incident has renewed attention on longstanding complaints from workers about labor conditions at the mining site. Documents reviewed during the investigation suggest that many employees are paid extremely low wages despite the demanding and hazardous nature of the work.

Reports indicate that some skilled workers earn around $1.20 per hour about $12 for a 10-hour shift while general laborers receive roughly $0.81 per hour, bringing their daily earnings to about $8.10 for the same long shift.

Workers also allege that they are not guaranteed regular days off, raising concerns about whether labor laws and standards in Liberia are being respected.

Further findings suggest that many of the workers are not directly employed by China Union itself but instead hired through a contractor identified as CRESS Human Resource Management Company.

Pay slips reviewed by Verity News reportedly show that some employees earn approximately $145 per month or even less. Labor advocates argue that such wages are far from adequate, especially considering the dangerous conditions commonly associated with mining work.

Beyond issues of pay and safety, workers say they are also facing serious welfare challenges. Several employees claim the company does not provide safe drinking water on site, forcing many workers to bring their own water each day before starting their shifts.

Meanwhile, environmental concerns are also growing among residents living near the mining concession in Bong County. Community members allege that dust, waste discharge, and other mining activities are beginning to impact their surroundings and daily lives.

According to residents, pollution linked to the mining operations may already be affecting the environment and raising fears about long-term damage to nearby communities.

Attempts to get a response from China Union Investment regarding these allegations were unsuccessful at the time of publication.