MONROVIA — Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. has ordered Firestone Rubber Plantation Company to immediately cease outsourcing large portions of its rubber plantation to private individuals.
By Edwin Genoway [email protected]
The Ministry’s directive requires Firestone to obtain prior approval from the Ministry before outsourcing any part of the plantation in the future, ensuring workers’ labor benefits are safeguarded.
The decision follows the successful signing of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the company and its workers after over three months of negotiations.
The agreement was finalized at the Ministry’s E.J.S. Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, with Minister Kruah overseeing the talks. Senior Firestone management, led by Government Relations Manager Richard Fallah, along with representatives from the Firestone Workers Union (FAWUL) and the Liberia Labour Congress (LLC), including Secretary General Marcus Blamah, were present for the signing.
Minister Kruah raised concerns about the negative impact of Firestone’s outsourcing policy on workers, noting that it had placed them in unfavorable working conditions that were not covered by the previous CBA.
He urged workers and employers to engage in social dialogue to address workplace issues effectively.
The newly signed CBA, which will last for three years, includes enhanced benefits for Firestone workers, including improved housing, overtime pay, and advanced protective equipment.
Minister Kruah emphasized that under President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s government, creating job opportunities and maintaining labor sector stability remain top priorities.
Both Richard Fallah of Firestone and Marcus Blamah of LLC expressed gratitude to Minister Kruah and the government for their role in peacefully finalizing the agreement.
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