GVL employs over 90 Liberians

Golden Veroleum Liberia on Monday, June 29 hired 60 Liberians at its Po–River farm site and 32 others at its Ylatwen community farm in Wedabo, Grand Cess County Administrative District, totaling 92 Liberians employed this week in Grand Kru County.

The move by the company is in line with a memorandum of understanding signed with both communities. According to the MOU, signed on August 22, 2014 with Po–River community, GVL is to employ approximately 200 community residents.

A press release dated June 30 issued in Monrovia said, the new employees, who started work effective July 1, 2015, will benefit from fresh hand basic training in oil palm and sustainable development as part of a career development plan as GVL advances towards production stage in southeast Liberia.

This is the second employment since the palm oil developer started operations in PO-River, while Ylatwen community’s employment marks the first batch of locals employed by the company.

GVL had earlier recruited 45 citizens in Po-River community, making up the total of 105 in the area since operation began in February 2015. Presenting their letters of employment, GVL Human Resources Officer in Grand Kru County, Victor Kaydor, explained company’s policy and urged the new employees to remain steadfast and focus as they have greater task to perform in developing their communities.

He further assured community residents that there will be more employment as land development continues in the area. The new employees completed medical screening before they started work on Wednesday.

Followed by Peter Doe-Sumah, Manager for Human Resources, the GVL officials welcomed the new batch of Liberians and cautioned them to take their jobs important and serious. Peter explained, “GVL is committed to reducing and ending rural poverty in the southeast. This comes along with GVL commitment of providing job opportunities, quality healthcare, education and other basic infrastructure development to directly benefit these communities.”

He said as the company’s operations expand and more hectares are developed; more employment will follow in the area.  Currently, GVL has employed nearly 4,000 Liberians with Grand Kru County accounting for more than 1,000. Earlier this year, the company announced it would employ additional 1,000 Liberians. So far, it has employed over 300 in both Sinoe and Grand Kru following the Ebola outbreak here.

Golden Veroleum Liberia, which has a concession agreement for 65 years, seeks to employ between 35,000 and 40,000 Liberians when fully operational, thereby ensuring a successful investment and meeting communities’ expectations.