By O’Neill A.R. Philips
Four Chinese nationals working for Bangli, an iron ore mining company operating in Bong Mines, Bong County, were caught performing carpentry work on a makeshift structure at the entrance of the company facility on Friday, November 14, 2025.
In an unannounced visit to the company facility following a strike action by Liberian employees in the first week of November, Labour Minister Cooper W. Kruah, who led a team of labour inspectors and officials, was shocked to find the four Chinese men on top of a makeshift structure nailing zinc to its roof.
The Labour Minister immediately mandated labour inspectors to gather details about the Chinese workers and subsequently announced the revocation of their work permits. Li Shuat Hua, Zhang Hong Wei, Zhang Wei Chai, and another Chinese national who fled the scene will formally receive their letters of revocation on Monday, November 17, 2025, from Minister Kruah.
In an open-door meeting with Bangli executives, the Minister instructed them to account for the escaped Chinese employee and file his name with the Labour Ministry in order to serve him his letter. He warned that failure on the company’s part to do so would imply that they are harboring foreign workers without work permits and could result in fines in accordance with Liberia’s Labour Law.
“I have immediately revoked the work permits of the four individuals, and their letters will be served to you on Monday,” Minister Kruah stated. “As for the other man who drove away in the company’s pickup, you must forward his name to us. Any failure to do so will be equivalent to harboring non-permit workers in your employ and is tantamount to a fine,” he warned.
However, Minister Kruah reminded the executives of Bangli that President Joseph Nyumah Boakai is pleased to see foreign companies operating in the country, but he envisions that they respect the Labour Laws of Liberia while promoting transparency, accountability, and dignity for labor.
Furthermore, the Labour Minister urged the company to honor labor bargaining initiatives with its workers to ensure harmonious working conditions at the company’s facility. Bangli General Manager Lyu Wen Ying thanked Minister Kruah and his delegation for the visit and promised to cooperate with the Minister’s mandate to forward the name of the escaped Chinese employee. Mr. Wen Ying stated that Bangli has employed 161 Liberians and 53 Chinese. He assured the labour officials of his company’s preparedness to work in Liberia by investing millions in its operations and pledged that his company will collaborate with relevant government institutions for its success in Liberia.
