Lawmakers Issue Ultimatum

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

The House of Representatives Committee on Human and Civil Rights has issued a fifteen-day (15) ultimatum to the Morris American Rubber Company (MARCO) to address issues at the company.

Rep. Lawrence Morris

The Morris American Rubber Company (MARCO) is a rubber company currently operating in rural Montserrado, particularly Todee district within district #1, Montserrado County.

The ultimatum which was issued on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, following a meeting held by the committee with workers and owners of the company was a result of a complaint filed to that august body by some aggrieved workers of the company.

Speaking to a member of the committee following the meeting, Montserrado County district#1 Representative, Lawrence Morris told journalists that this ultimatum is intended for the company, the workers, Ministry of Labor and the committee to draw up a plan in addressing the plight of the aggrieved employees.

Representative Morris said the Ministry of Labor and the company have agreed on a payment plan in order to fast track payment for the employees and all other obligations by the company to the community and residents.

“We want to continue to promote peace that is why we have to bring them to the attention by hosting the hearing here at capitol and the company themselves know that this no joke,” Representative Morris said.

He hopes that within the 15 days ultimatum that the company can be able to come up with some tangibles that would satisfy all parties, thus, failure on the part of the company to make some gains within the 15 days would mean that the company deliberately defied the committee and there would be consequences.

The meeting was held as a result of a complaint filed to the House of Representatives through their lawmaker, Representative Lawrence Morris of Montserrado County district#1

According to the workers complaint, the company has allegedly refused to provide safe drinking water for employees and make available protective gears for employees during production.

The workers through a twelve (12) counts resolution submitted to the committee through their lawmaker, Representative Lawrence Morris mentioned arrears ranging from 10 to 31 months and 20 to 50 months housing allowance owed by the company.

“No National Social Security and Insurance benefits for workers and deduction are every month.  Currently, no insurance on the farm for workers. Lack of referral hospital for employees and their dependents,” the counts noted among others.

Meanwhile, the company has blamed the lack of arrears owed the employees, safe drinks water, and other benefits to the slow price of rubber on the market but promised to settle all of these as soon as possible.