Monrovia, Liberia – A document in the possession of DN News Liberia has contradicted claims made by Civil Service Agency (CSA) Director General Josiah Joekai that ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) employed 3,000 Indian workers in roles that should be occupied by Liberians.
Joekai made the statement during a recent appearance before the Liberian Senate, where he raised concerns about alleged labor irregularities within the concession sector. His remarks were later echoed and posted by Nimba County Senator Nya Twayen Jr., prompting public debate on the matter.
However, verified workforce data reviewed by DN News Liberia show that the claim does not reflect the actual employment figures at AML.
A document dated May 31, 2025, indicates that AML employed a total of 2,848 full-time staff, of which 2,555 were Liberians—accounting for 90% of the full-time workforce. Only 293 employees were expatriates, representing 10%.
The report also includes data on fixed-term and contractor staff, especially those engaged in AML’s Phase Two expansion project, which involves significant infrastructure development. As of April 30, 2025, an additional 6,147 people were working under these categories—4,705 of whom were Liberians (77%) and 1,442 expatriates (23%), mostly technical and engineering specialists.
The document clarifies that many of these expatriates are employed not by AML directly but by subcontractors such as AFCON, whose staff numbers are frequently misrepresented in discussions about AML’s workforce.
When combined, the total workforce across AML and its related operations amounts to 8,995 individuals, with 7,260 Liberians (81%) and 1,735 expatriates (19%).
The report also states that AML is currently in compliance with its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) obligations regarding the prioritization of Liberian labor and is open to any labor-related audits.
