The_Open_Door_deel1

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on the basis of competitive prices and fair and reasonable other
terms and conditions. No system, however, was created at the same
time to control, enforce or check on these regulations whereas it
might well be that the formulation of these obligations is too
broad to avoid the problems of the past. The absence of sanctions
may also reduce the obligation to keep records in Liberia to
wishful thinking.
The Firestone Plantations Company was also obliged to furnish free
medical treatment, care and attention to all its employees and all
Government officials regularly working in the Production Area, and
their dependents. Contrary to common belief in Liberia, education
was never mentioned in the 1926 Planting Agreement with Firestone
or in any of the subsequent supplementary agreements or amendments.
The 1976 Agreement, however, states that Firestone has to provide,
free of charge and in conformity with the rules, regulations and
standards established by the Government, primary and secondary
school facilities up to and including the 9th grade.equipped and
staffed by the company for the dependent children of all employees
and all Government officials regularly working in the Production
Area. It is noteworthy that this is more than the Government had
initially requested ("the estaLlishment of primary schools for
children of 7irestone employees"). The company, however, fails
to comply with both of these obligations (to provide educational
and medical facilities).
The "Liberianization" policy of the Tolbert Administration is
reflected in Firestone's obligation to give preference to
Liberians who are qualified when employing labour, and further to
provide on-the-job-training, operate vocational training
facilities, and offer scholarships for qualified Liberian
employees to pursue advanced studies abroad. Wages, benefits, and
working conditions of the employees are intentionally vaguely
d escribed:
"Uages paid to and employees' Lenefits received by
7 irestonelLibeiia's employees and said employees'
working conditions shall be in accordance with
Liberian laws of general application" (88).
In practice plantation workers in this West African republic
have very limited rights. This is due to a characteristic and
typical policy of the Liberian politicians/plantation owners
both in the past and in the present. This policy played and
still plays a (decisive) role in the absence of trade unions
in the agricultural sector despite the fact that this sector
employs more labour than any other in Liberia. The Liberian
Government, not wanting Firestone to act as a pace-maker in this
respect, by this sub-section 11.2 of the Concession Agreement
legalizes a situation which is often referred to as "exploitation
of labour", and thus provides the company with a reason to
maintain the same situation.
Under the agreement the Government as well as Liberian
manufacturers possess the right_to purchase up to 10? of the
output of the Firestone Plantations Company (each, and on an
annual basis) at prices described in the sections 13 and 14,
respectively.