Workers request FCFA 100,000 as minimum wage

By Stephen TADAHA

Workers’ Trade Unions in Cameroon want the minimum wage to be increased to at least FCFA 100,000 in response to the increase in the prices of petroleum products.

This is one of the major proposals made known on Monday February 19, 2024 in a meeting between some workers’ trade union organizations and the Minister of labour and social security, Gregoire Owona.

During the meeting, the trade unionists expressed their desire to see the government immediately put in place some measures that will facilitate their adaptation to the increase in the prices fuel at fueling stations. More to that, they expressed their desire to see an increase in the minimum wage in Cameroon even though not applied in every sector. The minimum wages per sector in the country currently stands at FCFA 41,875 for state agents as stated in the labour code, FCFA 45,000 for the agricultural sector and FCFA 60,000 for other sectors.

These trade unionists say they want the minimum wage, particularly in the public sector to be increased.

“We have requested that collective conventions be reviewed and negotiated. It is in this way that the living standards of all workers can be increased,” Isaac Bissala, leader of a trade union declared.

“We have requested that the minimum wage be increased to FCFA 100,000” Pierre Louis Mouangue, another unionist declared.

Apart from the the above-mentioned proposals, the trade unionists also requested the following:

• Increase in family allowance from FCFA 2 800 to FCFA 4 500.
• Old age allowance be increased from FCFA 300 000 to FCFA 750 000 as from the month of February 2024.
• Before taking any decision that will impact the lives of workers and companies, the government should consult social partners.

The Government promised to give its point of view after it must have thoroughly examined the proposals.