By: Contributing Writer
On May 12, 2024, Bendu Sonii, a 42-year-old casual laborer at Mano Oil Palm Industries, suffered a life-altering accident. While visiting a friend, she was struck by a company vehicle that experienced brake failure. The impact crushed her right foot beyond repair, causing her to lose consciousness.
“The car nearly killed me,” Sonii later recalled in an interview with The Global Dream Radio 92.3MHz. “I was not myself when it hit me. My spirit left me.”
Eyewitnesses reported that before she blacked out, she screamed for her children. The police confirmed brake failure as the cause of the accident. The driver, Singbeh Jimmy, was jailed for five days and later suspended by the company. However, for Sonii, the consequences were far more severe.
Delayed Medical Attention and Life-Altering Consequences
Following the accident, Sonii was taken to Mano Oil Palm Industries’ headquarters, where she waited for hours without medical attention. When she was eventually transported to St. Joseph Catholic Hospital in Monrovia, the extent of the damage was irreversible.
Doctors determined that her right leg required amputation, a decision that required her consent. However, she remained unconscious for two weeks. Upon regaining consciousness, she had no choice but to approve the procedure.
“I sanctioned the amputation—for my children,” she stated, reflecting on the painful reality she had to face.
She spent three months in the hospital, struggling not only with her physical recovery but also with financial difficulties. The company contributed L$40,000 (approximately US$200) for food and drinks, an amount insufficient to cover her medical expenses. Meanwhile, her small business, which supplemented her income, collapsed during her absence.
Despite her ordeal, Mano Oil Palm Industries continued to pay her only US$70–$80 per month, along with four bags of rice—the same compensation she received before the accident.
A Broader Labour Crisis in Liberia
Sonii’s experience reflects a systemic issue affecting workers across Liberia. Many laborers face similar conditions, with inadequate workplace safety and minimal support following workplace injuries.
George S. Tengbeh, lead advocate of the Liberia Labour and Governance Alliance (LILGA), has been vocal about the poor labor conditions in the country. In his article, The Invisible Scars of Liberia’s Labour Crisis, Tengbeh highlighted the widespread neglect of labor rights and called for urgent reforms.
“Casual laborers in Liberia are treated as disposable,” Tengbeh wrote. “When they are strong, they are used. When they are broken, they are discarded.”
Tengbeh and LILGA have proposed several key reforms to improve worker protection:
- Mandatory Workplace Safety Regulations: Regular maintenance of equipment, including vehicle inspections, to prevent accidents like Sonii’s.
- Immediate Medical Assistance for Workplace Accidents: Employers should be required to provide emergency care without delay.
- Fair Compensation and Long-Term Support: Establishment of a workers’ compensation fund to provide financial security for injured workers.
- Legal Assistance for Victimized Workers: Access to legal representation for low-wage workers to ensure their rights are upheld.
In another article, A Nation Cannot Prosper While Its Workers Suffer, Tengbeh emphasized that Liberia’s economic growth depends on protecting its workforce. “A country that does not value its workers will never thrive,” he wrote. “When the government turns a blind eye to corporate exploitation, it is complicit in the suffering of its people.”
The Personal Toll of a Broken System
Beyond financial struggles, Sonii worries about the impact of her disability on her family life.
“My husband can feel bad because I had everything,” she admitted. “The day he gets it or doesn’t have it, I provide it. I think this is going to affect my marriage because some men are weak-minded.”
Despite the uncertainty, she remains hopeful. “I rely on faith and the support of my loved ones to navigate this new reality.”
However, faith alone cannot reform a broken labor system. Sonii’s story should serve as a call to action. Without intervention, many more workers will face similar fates.
Tengbeh and LILGA have outlined a roadmap for change. The responsibility now lies with the Liberian government to implement these reforms. If no action is taken, Sonii’s silent cry will not be the last.
