Resources —
FAQs
Running a business while, at the same time, working to enhance the lives of those who work for Firestone Liberia is a complicated endeavor. Firestone Natural Rubber Company is often questioned not only about the economics of the business, but also about its community involvement and agreements with the Liberian government. The company's most frequently asked questions are answered here.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What operations does Firestone Natural Rubber Company have in Liberia?
- How was productivity affected by the civil war?
- What kind of compensation packages do Firestone Liberia employees receive?
- Are there any Liberian managers in Firestone's Liberian operations?
- What are the working conditions like at Firestone Liberia?
- Does Firestone Liberia employ children?
- Does Firestone Liberia provide food for its workers?
- What benefits does Firestone Liberia health services provide for the community?
- How does Firestone Natural Rubber Company respond to the 2006 United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) report questioning Firestone Liberia's working conditions?
- How does Firestone Natural Rubber Company respond to the July 11, 2011, favorable resolution in the Flomo case, which had been brought in U.S. federal court with the assistance of the ILRF?
- Why is electricity scarce in Liberia?
- How does Firestone Natural Rubber Company respond to concerns about local water quality?
- How long can the Liberian rubber industry survive?
- The production of natural rubber produces a strong smell. Does it pose health risks for local people?
- What are the terms of Firestone Natural Rubber Company's business agreement with the Liberian government?
- Does Liberia's rubber industry benefit from the business agreement?
- Why was Firestone's 2005 concession agreement renegotiated?
- Are your Liberian employees represented by a union?
- What are your thoughts about the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia receiving the Iqbal Masih Award?
- How is it that Firestone didn't pay taxes until now?
- What is Firestone Liberia's relationship with the Sirleaf government?
- What are your thoughts about the report issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia?
- Does Firestone Natural Rubber Company plan to open a manufacturing facility in Liberia?
- What is the security situation at Firestone Liberia?
- Where does Firestone Natural Rubber Company buy rubber that is not produced at its operation?
- Why is Firestone Liberia allowing squatters and refugees to stay on its property?
- My nonprofit organization would like to get aid materials to Liberia to help rebuild the country. Can Firestone Liberia help us?
- Where can I learn about job openings at Firestone Natural Rubber Company?
- If Firestone Liberia becomes unprofitable, will Firestone stay in Liberia?
Q. What operations does Firestone Natural Rubber Company have in Liberia?
Firestone Liberia operates on approximately 118,000 acres (200 square miles) and employs more than 6,500 Liberians. Firestone Liberia's operations include:
- Approximately 75,000 acres of land suitable for planting rubber trees. A major long-term replanting program is ongoing to bring the planted acreage to optimum levels.
- A natural latex processing plant and block rubber processing plant.
- Hydroelectric and diesel power plants.
- A state-of-the-art, multimillion-dollar water treatment facility that processes water through constructed wetlands for natural, biological treatment.
- A facility for processing rubber trees into rubberwood.
Q. How was productivity affected by the civil war?
Firestone Liberia lost virtually everything during the war, yet it was the only major company that did not walk away from Liberia in its time of crisis. The company has taken a substantial risk to be a part of rebuilding Liberia, and has invested more than $107 million into the effort to rebuild homes, schools, health care facilities and other infrastructure, as well as to replant rubber trees.
Q. What kind of compensation packages do Firestone Liberia employees receive?
Firestone Liberia's lowest-paid workers are among the highest-paid in the country, earning more than many civil servants. Many of Firestone Liberia's employees are also trained business professionals, engineers, medical professionals and technicians, holding jobs at all levels throughout the company. To attract the best talent, Firestone Liberia provides competitive salaries and benefits.
All told, Firestone Liberia employs more than 6,500 Liberians. These workers hold relatively secure, well-paying jobs. Working conditions and wages are the result of a collective bargaining agreement freely entered into by the Firestone workers' union and the company. Firestone Liberia workers also receive a variety of benefits for themselves and their families, including free housing, free medical care, free education for their children, subsidized food, paid vacation and a pension upon retirement.
Q. Are there any Liberian managers in Firestone's Liberian operations?
More than 99 percent of Firestone Liberia's 6,500 workers and managers are Liberian nationals. Firestone Liberia's managers are well trained and educated, and have worked hard to earn higher positions within the company. To attract the best talent, Firestone provides competitive wages and benefits.
Q. What are the working conditions like at Firestone Liberia?
Firestone Liberia employees are represented by a union; working conditions and wages are the result of a collective bargaining process freely entered into by both parties. About half the employees perform typical agricultural work, working eight to ten hours a day. Firestone Liberia works to ensure they have safe working conditions and use proven, safe methods to tap rubber trees. The company provides each tapper with safety goggles at no cost. Tappers perform additional tasks for additional pay, according to the collective bargaining agreement.
Q. Does Firestone Liberia employ children?
Firestone Liberia does not hire nor employ anyone under 18 and has a zero-tolerance policy that even prohibits parents from bringing their children to work or being used as "subcontractors." The Firestone policy of hiring workers who are at least 18 years of age exceeds the Liberian labor law requirements by two years.
The company's zero-tolerance policy is communicated to all employees through their supervisors, at employee meetings, through signs posted around the property, and through their elected union representatives. Employees found violating this policy face the loss of their jobs.
Firestone Liberia strongly believes that the best place for children is in the classroom. The company currently operates 26 schools with nearly 16,000 students enrolled—all of them children of employees—who receive free education from the company.
Q. Does Firestone Liberia provide food for its workers?
Firestone Liberia's employees can purchase rice from the company at subsidized prices, which provide a significant savings to the employee. Each employee can purchase a 100-pound bag of rice per month for $10 USD. They can then purchase a second bag of rice for $15 USD. In Monrovia, for example, the same 100-pound bag of rice may sell for as much as $30 USD. Since many Firestone workers support extended families, the opportunity to buy additional rice at subsidized prices is a great benefit of working at Firestone.
Q. What benefits does Firestone Liberia health services provide for the community?
The primary benefit is access to better health care. Firestone Liberia medical facilities are among the best in Liberia. People in need of medical treatment from around the country come to Firestone Liberia when they cannot find the treatment they need elsewhere.
The medical staff receives as many as 9,000 patient visits a month. Mobile clinics enable doctors and nurses to treat patients in outlying neighborhoods and at schools. Firestone Liberia also supports the Government of Liberia/UNICEF vaccination campaign for the eradication of childhood diseases.
Q. How does Firestone Natural Rubber Company respond to the 2006 United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) report questioning Firestone Liberia's working conditions?
The report is largely inaccurate. Firestone Natural Rubber Company is committed to its long-standing partnership with the people of Liberia and is doing more than any other private entity to improve the quality of life for Liberians. The company provides jobs, housing, education, medical services and subsidized food to employees. Working conditions and wages, which far exceed Liberian labor law standards, are the result of a collective bargaining process freely entered into by the workers' union and the company. Union members elect their union leaders to represent their interests at the bargaining table.
Q. How does Firestone Natural Rubber Company respond to the July 11, 2011, favorable resolution in the Flomo case, which had been brought in U.S. federal court with the assistance of the ILRF?
We are gratified by the ruling. Our subsidiary, Firestone Liberia, has long been committed to its partnership with the Liberian people and we have vigorously defended against the ILRF's false allegations. This decision underscores that this lawsuit was without merit, and we are pleased to have set the record straight.
Firestone Liberia's business is built on the core values of respect and trust for its customers, its communities and its more than 6,500 employees. Firestone Liberia is doing more than any other private entity to invest in the rebuilding of Liberia in the aftermath of a 14-year-long war. Since the chaos ended, the company has invested more than $100 million in projects that will help Liberia rebuild and improve living standards. New housing, schools, health care facilities and free rubber tree saplings provided to Liberian farmers are helping to secure the future for thousands of families in the country. Further, Firestone Liberia has a strict, zero-tolerance policy against the use of minors in its operations and will continue to enforce that policy.
Every day the company is building upon the progress it is making in Liberia. Firestone Liberia will keep rebuilding its business, infrastructure and social services and — most important — improving the quality of life for its employees.
Q. Why is electricity scarce in Liberia?
Most of post-war Liberia is without power. Even Liberia's capital city, Monrovia, lacks generally available public electricity as a result of severe damage to the Mt. Coffee hydroelectric facility incurred during the country's long civil conflict. Under the leadership of President Sirleaf, it is anticipated that public power will ultimately be restored to the country.
Firestone Liberia's operations are agricultural and are located more than an hour away from the capital. Firestone is able to generate a limited amount of power from its small hydroelectric facility, primarily during the rainy season of the year. This facility, limited by the flow rate of the Farmington River, supplies power to the rubber processing factory, and for Firestone Liberia's plant and industrial needs.
Power is basically limited to the Harbel industrial area, some residences of staff, Duside Hospital and some housing areas. Most Firestone Liberia housing units are without power. Firestone Liberia also supplies Roberts International Airport with electric power. As required in the 2008 Concession Agreement, Firestone Liberia will study the power needs of the concession area and assess the feasibility of providing more power in the future.
Q. How does Firestone Natural Rubber Company respond to concerns about local water quality?
Since the completion of its multimillion dollar factory process water treatment system, Firestone Liberia has performed regular in-house testing of the water leaving the treatment system to ensure that the water meets applicable standards for discharge water quality (as agreed to by Liberia EPA and in Firestone's Concession Agreement with Liberian Government). Per these agreements and testing standards, Firestone fully believes it is in compliance with the Environment Protection and Management Law of Liberia, as well as with its environmental commitments to the Government. We strongly disagree with any characterization to the contrary.
In response to community concerns about water quality, Firestone invited an external environmental consultant from the United States, Environmental Services Company, Inc. (ESC), to conduct its own extensive testing of our discharge water. ESC confirmed that the water exiting Firestone Liberia's factory process system is not harmful to human health. These water quality analyses further confirm that Firestone Liberia's water treatment system is working as designed and intended.
Just as the Liberia government report stated, the ESC test results also confirmed that 13 of the 14 elements tested from the Firestone water treatment system returned with normal — or better than normal — results. Phosphate (an element not typically viewed as a testing standard in other rubber-producing countries) is a naturally occurring mineral which is often used in drinking water treatment. Phosphates are not harmful to human health.
Firestone Liberia's multimillion-dollar water treatment facility processes water from its factory through equalization and clarification tanks and into constructed wetlands on the company's property for natural, biological treatment. A consultant appointed by the Liberian Environmental Protection Agency presented this process to LEPA with his recommendation, and the company also obtained input from Dr. Robert Knight, the foremost environmental wetlands expert in the world, prior to implementing this system.
Since the facility's opening, analytical data and sampling gathered at strategic locations throughout the system have confirmed that the water quality improves with each step in this treatment process and is not harmful to humans or animals when it leaves the wetlands — the first point at which the water enters the stream running through local communities such as Kparnyah Town. This type of water treatment system is unparalleled in Liberia. However, Firestone will continue to fine-tune this system to address any elevated phosphate levels, and will continue to work directly with the Liberian EPA to ensure our continued compliance with all applicable water standards and laws.
Q. How long can the Liberian rubber industry survive?
Unlike finite resources such as diamonds, gold or iron ore, rubber trees are a renewable resource that — with proper care and a committed replanting program — can be sustained indefinitely.
Q. The production of natural rubber produces a strong smell. Does it pose health risks for local people?
This is a natural smell that is a result of the rubber aging process, and occurs anywhere natural rubber is produced. It can be unpleasant, but it poses no health risk to humans or animals.
Q. What are the key terms of Firestone Natural Rubber Company's 2008 business agreement with the Liberian government?
The most important aspect of the agreement is that it benefits all parties. It serves the interests of the government, the Liberian people, Firestone Liberia, its employees and their families.
Another key element is a focus on jobs. Firestone directly employs nearly 6,500 Liberians, and those jobs help create thousands of additional jobs in the country. The agreement provides Firestone the stability to continue investments in retaining those jobs. The agreement also provides the stability Firestone needed to develop and launch its new rubberwood business, a value-added operation that will create a minimum of 500 new jobs. Job creation is crucial for Liberia, where more than 80 percent of the population is unemployed.
Fiscal constancy is a third key element of the agreement. The agreement moderately increases and stabilizes the income tax rate payable by Firestone, which has been among the country's largest taxpayers for more than 80 years, as well as establishes new transfer pricing provisions for dry rubber and latex based on international indices. These changes allow the government more flexibility in applying its revenue laws and allow Firestone the stability to justify continuing major investment in rebuilding.
Additionally, under the agreement, Firestone will expand its ongoing support for small Liberian rubber farmers, educational programs and social projects.
Q. Does Liberia's rubber industry benefit from the business agreement?
Yes. Firestone will expand its commitment to saving the Liberian rubber industry. Firestone will continue its intensive replanting program, replanting 5,000 acres of rubber trees in its production area annually. Firestone has also provided farm advisory support, supplies and has distributed more than 2.21 million free rubber tree saplings to qualified Liberian rubber farmers since January 2008. Additionally, Firestone will provide financial support to the University of Liberia's College of Agriculture and to a government study of ways to support and enhance the rehabilitation of the natural rubber industry in Liberia.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's administration has called the 2008 Amended and Restated Concession Agreement a "model agreement" because it embodies the government's goals to ensure that all agreements are in the best interest of Liberia and consistent with principles that attract and sustain foreign investment in the country.
Q. Why was Firestone's 2005 concession agreement renegotiated?
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf requested that the 2005 agreement, signed with the transitional government, be renegotiated and Firestone agreed.
Q. Are your Liberian employees represented by a union?
Yes. Firestone employees, who have long been represented by a union, are among the highest-paid workers in Liberia. Working conditions, wages and daily task size are the result of a collective bargaining agreement freely entered into by the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL) and the company. Further, the company provides its employees with free housing, health care and education for their children, as well as paid vacation, subsidized food and a retirement pension.
The current collective bargaining agreement was signed by Firestone and FAWUL in June 2010.
Q. What are your thoughts about the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia receiving the Iqbal Masih Award?
Firestone Liberia applauds the work of individuals and organizations that share our commitment to working to secure a safe and promising future for children, and gives our compliments to FAWUL leadership on receiving this award.
While we are appreciative of the progress we have made together with FAWUL, we wish to clarify that Firestone Liberia has had a formal policy prohibiting child labor since June 2000. In July 2005, the policy was reissued, and the most recent version of the policy — a zero-tolerance policy that requires immediate termination of any Firestone employee who suggests, participates in, induces or attempts to hide an instance of child labor — was implemented in November 2005. Per each of these child labor policies, Firestone Liberia does not hire or employ anyone under 18, which exceeds Liberian labor law requirements by two years, and employees are expressly prohibited from bringing children under the age of 18 to work for use as helpers, even though doing so is a culturally accepted practice throughout the fields and farms of Africa.
Firestone Liberia strongly believes that children belong in the classroom, which is why we began rebuilding our school system, which was destroyed along with much of the country's infrastructure during Liberia's civil war, immediately when the war ended in 2003. Since Firestone's operations resumed following the war, the K-12 Firestone School System has enrolled between 14,000 and 16,000 students annually, making it the second-largest school system in Liberia, exceeded only by that of the capital city of Monrovia. While we appreciate FAWUL's ongoing support of our efforts on our education program, these improvements were set in place long before the 2010 collective bargaining agreement.
It should also be noted that Firestone Liberia's commitment to children and their education doesn't stop at the borders of our rubber farm. While Firestone Liberia provides K-12 schooling free of charge to children of our employees, public education elsewhere in Liberia is not free. The Firestone Scholarship Program provides tuition for deserving students throughout the country to attend the primary, secondary or undergraduate institution of their choice. More than 100 scholarships were awarded for the 2010-2011 school year, including 56 full-tuition scholarships for undergraduates to continue their studies at the university level. These scholarships are a significant part of the company's educational initiatives, considering the cost of education is often beyond the financial means of Liberian families surviving in a country with an estimated 80 percent unemployment rate.
The 2008 and 2010 collective bargaining agreements between Firestone Liberia and FAWUL, just as the many collective bargaining agreements before that, signaled the parties' continuing partnership as we work together to revitalize the natural rubber industry and help rebuild the company's operations. The goal for those negotiations — to continue to work together to create an environment that enables the company and its employees to succeed in ways that strengthen the business, the local community and Liberia itself — continues into the daily operations of the farm.
Since the end of the Liberian civil war, Firestone Liberia has invested more than $101.75 million in projects that will help Liberia rebuild and improve living standards. New housing, schools, health care facilities and free rubber tree saplings provided to Liberian farmers are helping to secure the future for thousands of families in the country. Firestone Liberia will continue its efforts to replant, rebuild and renew Liberia, and sincerely hopes to do so with the continuing support of FAWUL leadership.
Q. How is it that Firestone didn't pay taxes until now?
Firestone Liberia has been among the country's largest taxpayers for more than 80 years. Each year the company pays significant amounts of tax revenues to the government of Liberia.
Q. What is Firestone Liberia's relationship with the Sirleaf government?
In 2005, Liberia held peaceful and democratic elections that brought new and inspiring leadership to the country. Firestone Natural Rubber Company is working with this new government, and has hosted President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and other members of her administration at the Firestone Liberia operations, so they can see first-hand the progress being made on rebuilding. Together with President Sirleaf, Firestone Natural Rubber Company is dedicated to improving conditions for Liberians.
Q. What are your thoughts about the report issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia?
We are aware of the Commission's report dated June 29, 2009, and agree that Liberia has suffered a turbulent past, including most recently a grisly civil war that spared no one, including Firestone Liberia's operations. Various warring factions occupied the Firestone Liberia property at different times over the 14 years of chaos, forcing the company at gunpoint to shut down for several years. After 14 years of a horrific civil war, much of whatever we built in prior years was destroyed or fell into unimaginable disrepair.
Firestone Liberia maintained its commitment to Liberia and continued to operate as best we could despite the turmoil and tragedy suffered upon the country, its citizens and businesses. No other company managed to provide livelihood for so many Liberians during their time of need. Today, Firestone Liberia remains committed not only to rebuilding, repairing and restoring our operations but also to helping renew Liberia's infrastructure and economy as a whole.
Political and socioeconomic stability is important to the people of Liberia, the world and Firestone Liberia. We look forward to a sustained period of peace and prosperity for all.
Q. Does Firestone Natural Rubber Company plan to open a manufacturing facility in Liberia?
Given the lack of critical infrastructure — such as electric power — and the lack of a significant retail tire market in Liberia, there is no economic argument and little chance of commercial success of a tire manufacturing facility.
However, Firestone Liberia is currently processing rubber trees that have reached the end of their lifecycle for producing latex into ecologically sustainable Hevea wood. Hevea wood, commonly known as rubberwood, is used in the manufacture of furniture, flooring, interior finishing, plywood, paneling, chopping blocks and staircase components. The Hevea wood operation allows Firestone Liberia to provide at least 500 additional jobs.
Q. What is the security situation at Firestone Liberia?
The company continues to strengthen its security in order to protect people, property and products.
In 2005, the company agreed to establish and manage a plant protection force. This highly trained unit protects and serves all of the people of the Firestone operation. In 2007, a canine security unit was added to supplement the plant protection force. At the request of the Liberian government, the canine unit also searches for narcotics and dangerous goods at the international airport.
Unfortunately, Firestone Liberia is often the victim of illicit rubber tapping and other crimes, which pose danger to employees and risks to its operation. Firestone Liberia will continue to enhance security as necessary, and work with the national and local officials to uphold the law.
Q. Where does Firestone Liberia buy rubber that is not produced at its operation?
Firestone Liberia purchases rubber from numerous sources throughout the country. A primary agricultural product in Liberia, rubber is traded and sold on a daily basis. Rubber from independent farms is often passed and sold until a responsible seller is able to sell a commercial quantity of rubber to Firestone Liberia.
Q. Why is Firestone Liberia allowing squatters and refugees to stay on its property?
Firestone Liberia still has tens of thousands of internally displaced persons on its property. Some live with extended family members who are Firestone Liberia employees in company-provided housing. These internally displaced persons fled to the company's property during the war. Firestone Liberia has not asked them to leave because they have nowhere else to go.
Firestone Liberia will continue to work with the Liberian government, international agencies, and NGOs to reach a humane and fair resettlement program. If stability in Liberia continues, internally displaced persons will be able to return to their own homes and resume productive and peaceful lives.
Q: My nonprofit organization would like to get aid materials to Liberia to help rebuild the country. Can Firestone Liberia help us?
Yes. Firestone operates one ship, the Harbel Cutlass, which provides the only direct shipping service between Liberia and the United States. Firestone provides space for relief and other donated goods on the company's vessel traveling to Liberia. Qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organizations may apply for this space.
For more information on the type of cargo allowed and other specifications, or to download an application for space, please click here.
Q: Where can I learn about job openings at Firestone Natural Rubber Company?
Links to information about job opportunities with Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC and Bridgestone Americas can be found on the careers page.
Q. If Firestone Liberia becomes unprofitable, will Firestone stay in Liberia?
Firestone Natural Rubber Company has been in Liberia for more than 80 years. Through periods of stability and in times of civil war, the company has maintained its commitment to this unique and proud nation. It signed an agreement that goes through 2041 and fully expects to be there for that period and beyond.
