Firestone wins Liberian child labour case

ERJ staff report (DS)

Chicago, Illinois -- A US Appeals Court has rejected claims by 23 Liberian children that Firestone has illegally used them for child labour. In the ruling written by Judge Richard Posner, the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago said US law allows companies to be held liable for human rights abuses abroad.

Despite this admission, the ruling rejected claims by lawyers acting on behalf of Liberian children who challenged working conditions on Firestone's Liberian rubber estate.

In the carefully worded statement, Posner said, "Although Firestone doesn't employ children, at least directly, it sets high daily production quotas for its employees, who are poor Liberian agricultural workers. It is difficult for an employee to make his daily quota without help, and there is evidence that if he fails to make it he loses his job. These jobs are well paid by Liberian standards-in 2007 the average annual income of tappers (rubber farmers) on the Firestone plantation was $1559, though Liberia's per capita GDP was only $218 "

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Judge Richard Posner's statement from Leagle

UPDATE 1-Firestone wins Liberian child labor case in US from Reuters