CDC workers petition PM as strike looms
The workers of the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, have addressed a petition to the head of government pleading for a change in their financial status ahead of the new academic year.
The 20 signatories denounce over 28 months of unpaid wages and say only a letter of indebtedness given them by CDC management. “The CDC man has become a laughing object to many Cameroonians as they can’t even afford common basic necessities for their families.”
Prior to the 2022/2023 academic year, these workers plead with that prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute looks into their problems as uncertainty looms over the education of their children. “It should be noted that some CDC workers’ salaries are not up to F CFA 25000 and if this worker gets just one month’s salary, how will he cope with 4 kids to send to school…” they wonder.
Unhappy with the present financial stand, these workers warn of an imminent strike starting on September 1 2022, if immediate action is not taken. “Our patience has run out and we need our money and our children need to go to school like other normal children” they say.
Since the outbreak of the socio-political crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon, CDC workers have been badly hit as many have been killed and others forced to stop work due to separatist threats. Meanwhile, management is struggling to revive activities and keep the enterprise running and turnover has gradually increased from F CFA 3 billion in 2019, to F CFA 8 billion in 2020 and 15 billion in 2021. It is therefore difficult to comprehend why the workers are not being paid when they are the engine driving the corporation’s growth.
