By By Domingo Dargbeh;
dargbehdomingo@gmail.com
SKD, Paynesville – Tensions are boiling at the Ministry of Youth and Sports as frustrated casual workers take to the streets in protest, accusing Minister Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalau of refusing to settle their seven-month salary arrears.
The ongoing demonstration, now stretching into its second week, has seen scores of aggrieved workers demanding immediate payment of their hard-earned wages. According to the protesters, each worker is owed $1,050 USD, a sum they insist must be paid in full before they leave the ministry’s premises.
“We worked tirelessly for this ministry, and now they refuse to pay us? This is unacceptable!” an angry protester shouted. “We are calling on President Joseph Boakai to dismiss Minister Bangalau immediately. He has failed us!”
Adding to their grievances, the casual workers revealed that some of their colleagues have tragically lost their lives due to financial hardship brought on by the unpaid wages. They lamented that Minister Bangalau, who had previously assured them of continued collaboration, has instead turned his back on them, leaving them in despair.
Ministry Denies Allegations
In response to the workers’ accusations, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has dismissed their claims as baseless. Director of Communications, Mr. P. Oxford Browne, clarified that the contracts of over 80 casual workers had expired on December 31, 2023, under the administration of former Minister D. Zogar Wilson.
Photo: Minister of Youth and Sports Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalau
“Their contracts were terminated by the Civil Service Agency (CSA), not Minister Bangalau,” Browne asserted. “The Ministry recognizes the vital role these workers played in janitorial and sanitary services, and we are actively working with the CSA and the Ministry of Finance to reintegrate them. But they must remain patient.”
Browne further emphasized that Minister Bangalau’s administration does not owe the workers any money. “Even former Minister Wilson has repeatedly stated this,” he added.
The Fight for Justice Continues
Despite the Ministry’s clarification, the disgruntled workers remain steadfast in their demand for justice. They insist that they were paid $150 USD per month since the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration and argue that their employment status should not be used as an excuse to deny them their due compensation.
The unfolding saga at the Ministry of Youth and Sports highlights the deepening struggles of casual workers in Liberia, with many now questioning the government’s commitment to their welfare. As the protests rage on, all eyes remain on the Boakai administration to see whether it will intervene or let the battle continue.
For now, the workers refuse to back down, vowing to intensify their demonstrations until their voices are heard and their demands met.
