Margibi County—Jeety Rubber LLC, a subsidiary of the Jeety Conglomerate, has commenced extensive renovations of key facilities at the Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC), just weeks after acquiring the plantation.
By: Yawah Y. Jaivey
The renovation project, spearheaded by Jeety SRC’s new owner, Upjit Singh Sachdeva, is aimed at improving the schools and clinic on the plantation, which have been closed since June.
The renovation efforts include expanding restrooms, installing concrete brick partitions in the auditorium, creating new classrooms for pre-first to kindergarten levels, and excavating water lines to supply restrooms.
These upgrades are expected to enhance the educational and healthcare infrastructure available to the SRC workers and their families.
Jeety Rubber’s founder, Sachdeva, acquired SRC from Socfin, a Belgian-French agricultural conglomerate, which divested the company after years of financial losses and a mid-June protest by workers over poor housing, inadequate medical care for work-related injuries, and other grievances. The protest led to the shutdown of SRC, Liberia’s fourth-largest rubber producer, and the layoff of over 800 workers, primarily tappers.
During a tour of the company in early September, Sachdeva assured local residents and workers that the factory and its associated institutions would soon be back in operation.
“In the soonest possible time, Salala Rubber Corporation will return to business, create jobs, and continue to provide critical social services,” he said.
The acquisition of SRC by Jeety Rubber is expected to preserve the more than 800 jobs lost during the company’s closure.
SRC’s 4,400-hectare rubber plantation is a significant player in Liberia’s economy, and the reopening of the factory will require a strong workforce.
In addition to restoring SRC’s production capabilities, Mr. Sachdeva emphasized the importance of reopening the plantation’s schools and clinics, which provide essential services to employees and their families.
“Your patience and resilience have not gone unnoticed,” Mr. Sachdeva told workers during his address. “We are on the path to recovery, and soon, you will see SRC standing strong once again.”
Jeety Rubber’s acquisition of SRC elevates the company from a rubber processor to both a processor and a concessionaire. This move is seen as a strategic step toward Jeety Rubber’s goal of producing Made in Liberia rubber products, including latex gloves and tires, in both the short and long term.
