Sime Darby Oil Palm Plantation located in Bomi and Grand Cape Mount counties has suspended an estimated 160 of its security officers for time indefinite.
Making the disclosure on Tuesday, the Communication Manager of Sime Darby Plantation, Samwah Fallah said the security officers were suspended for what the management of the Plantation referred to as “gross insubordination.
According to Fallah, about a fortnight ago, the Management of Sime Darby Plantation served the security officers in their employ a communication inviting them to undergo an in-service training.
He said the training, which would have been conducted by the Liberia National Police (LNP) on the grounds of the Plantation, was part of the Plantation’s way of improving the security knowledge of their security officers.
Fallah informed the Liberia News Agency (LINA) that upon receiving the communication, the officers refused to turn up for the training, and that they did not give excuse for not attending the course.
The Sime Darby Communication Manager said this prompted the management to suspend the security officers, noting that their action runs contrary to the labor laws of Liberia.
The company’s spokesman said while the security officers are under suspension, the company will launch an investigation into why they did not attend the in-service training exercise.
He assured that the investigation will be conducted in accordance with the 2015 Decent Work Law of Liberia.
Fallah stressed that if the officers do not give any justifiable reason for their failure to attend the training their services will be terminated by the company.
Meanwhile, in response to the action of the company, a member of the suspended group of security officers, who spoke on the basis of anonymity, said the reason for their refusal to attend the training was that they have had series of training on the grounds of the company, and that they had earlier asked the company to take the training this time around outside of the company premises.
He said one of the venues that they had recommended to the management is the Liberia National Police Academy.
He added that if the training is conducted at the Police Academy, they will be issued “Certificates of Achievement” upon completion of the exercise which they could use as part of their training credentials.
He indicated that they have on several occasions pleaded with the company to schedule the training outside of the Plantation, but management has repeatedly refused to adhere to their plea.
He, therefore, said they are planning a meeting with the management so that they can find common ground on the issue.
LINA
Comments are closed.