(Business in Cameroon) - The personnel of Camwater, the Cameroonian water company, will receive CFA500 million as part of the social debt owed to them by the state. The good news was reported in a statement cosigned by the Minister of Water, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, the Managing Director of Camwater, and five union leaders.
Indeed, the workers threatened to go on strike as of October 1 if the government does not pay all the debt it owes. In their strike notice, they stated that President Paul Biya ordered the disbursement of CFA10 billion in 2018 for their benefit, but they have received nothing so far. Although the amount promised by the Minister represents only 5% of their demands, the employees seem to have given up the strike idea.
“Camwater’s new management team has taken good measures to respect the legal and regulatory texts, including the Labor Code and the collective agreement […] Therefore, the union leaders inform the staff that the strike call is lifted. Workers are invited to be at their office on Monday, October 3, 2022, at 7:30 a.m. sharp,” the document reads. However, the statement did not indicate when the resources would be available, it only stressed that the entire debt "will be paid gradually”.
Written by S.A.
Translated from French by Firmine AIZAN