An investigation by Verity News has revealed that a majority of employees at the Firestone Rubber Company in Liberia continue to live without direct access to electricity, contradicting long-held company claims of providing adequate power, security, and housing to its workforce.
The findings, based on internal documents and firsthand accounts, indicate that over 55 percent of Firestone workers are not connected to electrical power within their residences. Instead, electricity lines run across rooftops without direct access, leading many employees to call themselves “light seers” rather than actual users.
Firestone, which has operated in Liberia since 1926 and oversees 45 divisions nationwide, has long portrayed itself as a model employer and provider of essential infrastructure. However, Verity News’ investigation exposes a troubling gap between the company’s public image and the daily living conditions of its employees.
Sources familiar with the situation say efforts have been made to bring in the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) to supply power directly to Firestone housing units. But these efforts have reportedly been blocked by the company, which has restricted LEC’s access to the employee quarters.
Negotiations are said to be ongoing, though progress has been slow. Meanwhile, thousands of Firestone employees and their families continue to live in partial darkness, despite working for one of Liberia’s oldest and most powerful multinational corporations.
