House Wants Management Team At COCOPA Changed -Writes President Sirleaf Barely several years of report of unhealthy working environment at one of Liberia’s oldest rubber companies, members of the Lower House have endorsed a report calling for of the Cocopa Rubber Company, a Liberia Company. The House of Representatives took the decision on Thursday, June 6, following heated deliberations on the recommendations submitted to Plenary by the Committee that investigated the situation. It can be recalled that several citizens, most especially employees of the Liberia Company (LIBCO) assembled on the grounds of the Capitol Building to express their objections about allged bad labor practices on the plantation in Nimba County. The petition was received by Representative Gabriel Nyenkan during the first sitting of the 53rd National Legislature. Representative Larry P. Younquoi of District # 8, Nimba County buttressed the efforts of his constituents by writing the House’s Plenary about report of unhealthy working conditions at the plantation. A fact finding delegation headed by Representative Josephine Francis visited the operational site of the company and detested bad labor practices and unconducive working environment for the employees. According to the House’s Committee Chairman on Agriculture & Fishery, LIBCO lacks education, health facilities, poor housing facilities, insufficient equipment, among others. The findings from the visitation was sent to the Labor Committee chaired by Representative Christian Chea. Speaking to legislative reporters, Representative Chea said the employees are confronted with numerous challenges, ranging from low salary, lack of basic social services and conducive working environment. According to him, President Sirleaf has been informed about the newest report from the House relating to the lack of pay for employees on the plantation. He stated that LIBCO has operated for 60 years without any major impact in Nimba County and Liberia at large. The RiverGee County lawmaker pointed out that all the buildings at the plantation, with the exception of the Manager’s residence are in dilapidated conditions. He alleged that the company constructed an elementary school that has lasted for decades without the erection of a secondary school. The House’s Committee Chairman on Labor claimed that the company has reportedly violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed with its employees. He alleged that LIBCO operational license has expired in April this year, but the company is operating in secret, thus defrauding government’s taxes. Representative Chea said the company’s employees are allegedly working without protective gears in the case of any eventuality. He claimed that the plantation operations can not suit modern day reality. The RiverGee legislator disclosed that students who are working are allegedly deprived acess to education due to the only elementary sechool on the plantation. He said the biding process to get a new management team has commenced, and was advertised in several local dailies. Representative Chea claimed that the awarding of the contract will be done competitively and transparently to avoid future embarrassment. He claimed that continuous strike action on rubber plantation and other working sites must be reduced to improve the living conditions of the Liberian citizenry. Meanwhile, National Investment Commission(NIC), Ministries of Agriculture, and Labor are being informed about the ongoing plan to change the present LIBCO Management.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:49:39 +0000
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