Firestone Natural Rubber Company, one of Liberia’s largest employers, says it will make 800 workers redundant.
It blames the “difficult decision” on the global fall in price of the commodity. It also says Liberia’s past “prolonged civil wars” and “high overhead costs” played a role.
Reuters news agency says Firestone’s parent company, Bridgestone Americas, signed a 99-year contract with the Liberian government in 1926.
Its plantation covers almost 200 sq miles, east of the capital, Monrovia, the agency reports.
Firestone has been accused of funding ex-warlord Charles Taylor between 1989 and 1992, through alleged “secret dealings” that allowed the company to stay in operation.
Firestone denies the allegations.
source bbc
