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Firestone’s decision to outsource some of its tappings to contractors on the plantation prompted a Legislative hearing on Capitol Hill last month. The hearing followed lawmakers’ allegation that the company violated certain provisions of the 2008 Amended and Restated Concession agreement, as amended in 2019.
By Othello B. Garblah
Harbel, Margibi County, July 24, 2024: – Last month, lawmakers led by Margibi County District #2 Representative Iva K. Jones accused Firestone of allegedly violating certain provisions of the 2008 Amended and Restated Concession Agreement as amended in 2019.
In his communication to the House of Representatives, Rep. Jones indicated that the Firestone Natural Rubber Company was in violation of Sections 9, 10.1, and 11 of the Concession Agreement and the issue of Contract Tapping within the concession area.
Sections 9, 10.1, and 11 of the Amended Firestone Concession Agreement concern the provision of medical care, education, and housing for Firestone Liberia employees and their dependents, respectively.
In his allegations, Rep. Jones indicated that the introduction of contract tapping not only violated the amended concession agreement but also denied the 2000 contract employees at the plantation the above-listed amenities enjoyed by direct Firestone employees.
However, during a joint investigative tour of several divisions on the plantation where contractors are operating, the findings proved otherwise.
The joint team of journalists visited Divisions 17, 21, 39, 27, and 25 and interviewed several contract workers, including tappers, securities, teachers, supervisors, and the chairman of the Firestone Tapping Contractors Association.
Mr. Joseph Kaiheyah speaking to out team at the Firestone Gulf Club House
Mr. Joseph Kaiheyah, a retired Firestone Estate Superintendent, is the Chairman of the Firestone Tapping Contractors Association. Upon his retirement, he was awarded contracts for two Divisions, 25 and 39.
He told our team of investigators that Rep. Jones’s allegation that contractors’ employees do not enjoy similar amenities as Firestone employees was untrue.
According to Mr. Kaiheyah, contract employees enjoy the exact same amenities as medical care, education, and housing facilities. He explained that their employees enjoy these amenities and their contracts comply with the Ministry of Labour standards.
“We collect Government of Liberia Revenue from employees in income taxes. We pay Employees Social Security benefits (employees pay 4%, while we pay 6% as required by law) and an additional 2% for injury,” Mr. Kaiheyah explained.
He told our team that each contractor employee and his/her dependants are entitled to free medical care just as Firestone employees. He says it works because employees and their dependents are given forms to seek medical care at any of the three health centers that Firestone runs on the farm, including Duside Hospital.
At the end of every month, they (contractors) pay on behalf of their employees without taking a dime from their salaries.
“We take care of medical bills. If a contractor and spouse, including children, go to the hospital, we take care of their bills. We also provide free education from elementary to Junior High,” he said, adding that the contract tappers’ leadership is in the process of elevating schools in their “that contractors are in the process of adding the high school will be added soon.
The Contractors operate 14 of the 22 schools on the Firestone Plantation. The Contractors planned to centralize all their schools. As regards housing facilities, although contractors’ employees enjoy such facilities for free, Firestone still maintains ownership of the units in contracted Divisions and is responsible for their rehabilitation.
At Division 39, where the contractors run an elementary school comprising 181 students, our team of investigators met students well-dressed in their school uniforms, rehearsing for their closing ceremony.
Our team spoke with the School Principal, Mr. Nathaniel Waka Kapalahum, and three of his Teachers, Fester Saye, a K2 and rotational Grade 3 teacher, Mr. Johnson Suno, a K-1 teacher and Mr. Johnson Mewaseh, a Grade 1 teacher, who rotational teaches from Grade 3-6.
The school Principal and his teachers confirmed that they enjoy free housing and medical care. Like Firestone employees, they also receive a monthly food ration (bags of rice).
Their complaints were the lack of textbooks and electricity in their classrooms, which the contractor’s head said they are working on.
Mr. Menyon pointed at the male and female inpatient wards of the clinic
Mr. John V. Menyon is a PA at the Firestone Clinic in Division 27, one of the Divisions currently being tapped by contractors. He told our investigative team that the clinic doesn’t collect money from anyone, including those with emergency cases who are neither employees nor contractors.
“Here, they don’t pay money. They come with passes, whether employee or contractor,” Mr. Menyon said. “If you are employed as a contractor, all you do is list all your dependants. Firestone will then share all your information with the clinics. So, whatever we can’t treat, we refer to Duside” he explained.
Mr. Menyon’s clinic treats 400-450 contract employees and their dependants monthly for free. “Emergencies and accident cases (for those who are neither employees nor contractors) are treated on gratis once the incident occurs within the concession area.
Mr. Menyon also explained that patients who require admittance or a long stay are referred to Duside Hospital. Duside Hospital is the second-best Private Hospital in the country after AMI. To be continued.
