MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Supreme Court of Liberia has ruled in favor of more than 200 former employees of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), directing the organization to pay outstanding overtime benefits. The High Court upheld the decision of a trial judge, confirming that GTZ is responsible for the compensation owed to the workers, but with some adjustments to the original ruling.
This judgment, delivered during the October 2024 term, comes after a lengthy legal battle that began in 2008. The court’s decision requires the trial court to refer the case to a hearing officer at the Ministry of Labour, who will recalculate the overtime pay for the former employees according to the guidelines set out by the High Court.
The case centered around claims made by the former employees, who argued that GTZ had not paid them for overtime worked during their employment. The employees were also seeking severance benefits, as they were laid off before their fixed-term contracts ended. The court affirmed the lower court’s ruling, which held GTZ accountable for the unpaid overtime, and mandated that the Ministry of Labour hearing officer review and adjust the calculation of these benefits.
The Supreme Court’s ruling included a clear order for the lower court to proceed with the case and ensure that the appropriate action is taken to settle the workers’ claims. “The ruling of the trial judge holding the appellant liable for overtime pay is affirmed; however, this matter is remanded to the trial court with instructions to forward it to the hearing officer to calculate the overtime benefits in accordance with the formula outlined herein,” the court’s opinion read.
Joe Gborie, the spokesperson for the group of former employees, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, describing it as a milestone for labor rights in Liberia. He emphasized that the ruling sets an important precedent that will discourage employers from engaging in unfair treatment of workers in the future.
According to Gborie, the employees had been advocating for their rights, particularly regarding severance pay, for an extended period. He explained that the workers were employed on fixed-term contracts but were declared redundant before their contracts had expired, arguing that GTZ should not have terminated their services prematurely. Gborie believes that the High Court’s ruling is a major step forward in addressing the issues of labor rights and ensuring accountability for companies operating in Liberia.
