Senator alarms security threat & sinister plan.

By Lincoln G. Peters

The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Defense, Intelligence, Security, and Veteran Affairs, Lofa County Senator, Momo T. Cyrus, has expressed alarm over a national security threat and sinister plan by the Ministry of Labor and the Workers Union of Liberia’s proposal to unionize the Private Security Sector, especially private security hired and assigned at the ArcelorMittal Liberia Concession areas.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Senator Cyrus stated that the proposal from the Ministry of Labor and the Workers Union of Liberia to unionize the private security sector would be an infringement and complete destabilization of the country’s peace and security, while vehemently rejecting the proposal.

He said that anything that will bring about destabilization and infringement on the peace and security of the country will not be endorsed; instead, they will take keen note and provide oversight regarding the matter, as mandated in the ToR of the Committee.

According to him, the issue of whether Private Security can be unionized is something that has never existed before in Liberia, as private security began to be activated in the 1950s, making it an informal sector rather than a formal one.

He further indicated that there are numerous foreign concession companies in Liberia, but for the Labor Union and the Ministry of Labor to initiate conversations to unionize only ArcelorMittal Liberia is suspicious, and he wonders what happened to Beat Mountain, China Union, and many others.

He argued that how can a single concession among many be the only one that the Labor Union and the Ministry of Labor are proposing to be unionized.

” So, we see that as a contradiction; therefore, we are going to stop that until conversations are held. Private Security is an informal sector; therefore, if we were to formalize it, a comprehensive discussion would be required, as it has significant security implications. I have informed the Minister of Labor and Justice that if we must do this, we should have a conversation about it. The Private Security Industry will be pleased to see that their profiles are elevated, and clients are paying them better wages, and workers are receiving better compensation. The Private Security sector is not formal or standardized; it offers individualized pricing for its clients. Therefore, until we can standardize it and make it a formal sector, we don’t consider it feasible or timely. ” Senator Cyrus stated.

He urged that if the Workers Union and the Ministry of Labor are very keen on this, they should have a holistic conversation with the Ministry of Justice to examine both the benefits and drawbacks, clarifying that they are not opposed to it. Still, it’s not yet the right time.

The Ministry of Justice, through the Public Safety Department, is responsible for regulating private security activities. Therefore, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Justice should discuss whether private security personnel will need to be unionized. This has a public safety issue. The Private Security is a private institution paying government taxes and hired by the institution to provide physical private security coverage; therefore, we can’t allow them to form part of a union because they’re responsible for protecting the lives and properties of the Institution for which they have been hired.” He stated.

Senator Cyrus added that it is contradictory for them to form a union, as they are a security institution; therefore, they can’t be unionized.

” Just as the Liberian National Police, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Immigration Service, and the entire government security forces can’t be unionized, that is the same with the Private Security because they are all saving lives and properties. So, the new paradigm shift that the Ministry of Labor, through the Worker Union, is proposing for implementation to unionize private security, we think it’s not timely; therefore, we will do everything to talk with the Ministry of Justice and Labor not to ensure that this happens because it will have a backlash.” Senator Cyrus stated.

Recently, proposals have been made by the Workers Union of Liberia and the Ministry of Labor to unionize the Private Security sector, particularly for private security personnel hired and assigned to the ArcelorMittal Liberia Concession areas. –