Liberia: Protest by Golden Veroleum employees over "low wages, bad labour practices" turns violent; includes company comments
'Sinor-country concession area hit by rioting, several fleeing', 27 May 2015:…[W]orkers of…Golden Veroleum…staged a…violent…protest…against low wages and bad labor practices…GVL’s Human Resource Manager was reportedly seized for several hours…property damage is estimated around US$1 million…more attacks are…planned if management fails to address the employees' concerns…Alfred Brownell, who has been providing legal support to the people of Butaw…[said]…“…We hear of mass arrests and detentions but we are preparing…support for the community…”…GVL…[said] [it] will continue to work closely with government and local communities…“We…agree…that there is a need to employ more Liberians in management and professional roles, which we are committed [to] achieving,” GVL Spokesman Stephen Binda said….“GVL takes seriously its management training and career development programs through which several hundred Liberians have benefited…”