Margibi County – Superintendent Jerry Varney has described the recent news of Firestone Liberia’s plan to redundant 800 workers within its employ as a ‘difficult time’ for the ruling CDC-led government’s ‘Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development’ (PAPD).
Report by Augustine T. Tweh-00231775524647 / [email protected]
He made the statement in an interview with a team of reporters on Thursday, March 21 at the Corina Hotel in Monrovia.
“We see this as a difficult time for the government but again, this is a situation that we inherited. This situation was not created under this regime so, we pray and hope that our partner, Firestone and us can sit on a round table to discuss it holistically,” Varney said.
Superintendent Varney added that Firestone is operating in a country govern by law.
“Until the rightful things can be done, we think Firestone should still shoulder the responsibility of paying our retirees. The issue of redundancy is a process. In the first place we think Firestone is operating in a country and this country has a leadership,” he noted.
Superintendent Varney admonished citizens within the employ of the company to be patient and kind as the government is working out modalities to resolve the matter.
“We think Ambassador George Manneh Weah in his wisdom as a good leader will be able to handle the situation. We are talking to the management through its lawyer to resolve the matter.”
He continued: “Until all the necessary arrangements and preparations can be done, we think that Firestone is still answerable to our people.” It can be recalled recently, the management of Firestone Liberia said recently: “After a thorough and strategic review of its current operations in Liberia, West Africa, Firestone Natural Rubber Company, an indirect subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., has announced the difficult decision to reduce its workforce by 13% (approximately 800 employees) by early second quarter of 2019 at the company’s Firestone Liberia operation. Headcount reductions will take place throughout the company’s operations, and include retirements, the discontinuation of certain work contracts, and redundancies,” the company said in a statement.