I began my working life around 1975, when I got a job as a factory worker at the Firestone Rubber Plantation in Harbel. Back then, stable, well-paying jobs were hard to come by, so I stayed with the company rather than trying to find something else. To make ends meet, I also sold provisions from my home on the side.
That factory job was very difficult and dangerous. We often had to handle burning chemicals without gloves, and the heavy machinery didn't have proper safety guards to protect our hands. The pay was meagre, and if you complained about the working conditions, you risked losing your job altogether. But I kept going, because I wanted to improve my life and provide for my children.
I managed to save a little money, but it was never enough, given how low my salary was. Most of what I earned went toward caring for my children, especially their school fees, since their father wasn't providing any financial support. After more than ten years at Firestone, I finally got the opportunity to travel to the United States, and I took it.
While I was in the United States, I worked as a babysitter. That job paid better, and I used the money to keep supporting my family back home in Liberia. But as I got older, I started to feel lonely there, with no one really to care for me, so I made the decision to return home to Liberia.
Because I had worked at Firestone for over a decade, I became eligible for retirement benefits. Today, I receive about LD$3,400 a month from my years of service. Sadly, it's just not enough to cover my monthly needs. Now that I'm too old to work, I rely mostly on my children for financial support and care.
Honestly, the pension payments are often too small for what I need right away. So sometimes I let the payments build up over several months before I withdraw enough to cover essentials like food and medication. My children aren't wealthy themselves, but they continue to support and care for me. Some days are harder than others, but we manage to make ends meet together.
Looking back on my life, I feel truly blessed to have had the chance to work and provide for my children. But I do wish I had saved more for my own retirement. During my years in the United States, I spent most of my energy helping different families and supporting people back home, and that left very little saved for my own future.
If I could give one piece of advice to younger workers, it would be this: save and invest while you're still earning. Helping your family is important, yes, but you also need to make sure you have enough set aside for yourself and your future. For me, planning for old age is not something you should leave until retirement is already here.