MONROVIA, April 22 (LINA) - The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Concession, Ways and Means, Labor and Judiciary to investigate reports that Arcelor Mittal is on the verge of sacking hundreds of Liberians.

 
The mandate was given Tuesday following deliberations on a letter to Speaker J. Alexander Tyler by Grand Bassa County Representative Gabriel Smith requesting Plenary to invite the Ministers of Finance and Development Planning, Lands, Mines and Energy and Labor along with the Management of Arcelor Mittal to explain the planned redundancy by the company.
 
Smith in the communication asserted that the report was serious and demanded the urgent attention and response of the Liberian Government.
 
If actualized, hundreds of Liberians employed with the company in Montserrado, Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa counties would be out of job.
 
It was reported recently in the media that Arcelor Mittal has informed the government that it will lay off many Liberians due to the drastic reduction in the price of iron ore on the world market.
 
The global steel giant Arcelor Mittal started mining operations in Liberia in 2005 following the signing of a concession agreement with the Liberian government.
LINA