By NOELA EBOB BISONG
Following the hard times currently being experienced at the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), The SUN has learnt that Technical Leave of workers has now become unavoidable, and may occur anytime soon.
According to Becke Henry, Director of Human Resources (DHR) at the CDC, “It is not our desire that there should be phasing out of workers or Technical Leave. We have embarked on tripartite dialogues and adequately informed the Government of the precarious situation in the CDC. It is our prayer that the socio-political and economic problem plaguing the North West and South West Regions as a whole is speedily resolved so that normal activities resume.”
He nonetheless points out that “However, if we must implement Technical Leave, we shall use the most humane approach that will minimize psychological stress on the part of workers.”
The director maintains that the CDC is governed by Labour legislation, and in accordance with Section 2, Sub section 5:4 of the Labour Code, the issue of Technical Leave is defined in relation to a situation of war, natural disaster or threat such as fire, flood and so on. “You will agree with me now that the situation in the North West and South West is like a war because workers are prevented from going to work, they are even attacked, they are maimed at their place of work and at home. For that reason, a good number of Estates are not operational.”
Citing Ministerial Order No. 001/CAB/MTPS/ of 14 February1995 that gives the modalities on remuneration of workers under such circumstances, Becke details that “If a worker finds his/herself in these circumstances, the first month the worker receives an equivalent of 50% of basic salary with seniority bonus inclusive, when the situation goes to the second month you receive 40% of basic salary plus seniority bonus and it continues 35%, 30% 25% and 20% in the sixth month.”
Talking on the general atmosphere which currently reigns in relation to workers, Becke says “We monitor the social climate on a daily basis and so far it is not good at all. It is very challenging because it is not easy to dialogue with a worker who has not had wages for 8-12 months. It is difficult to know what language to use to motivate such a person, because children have to go to school, he/she has to feed the family and so on. We have been transformed into full-time counselors because some workers come and they just want someone to talk. What they need is mostly related to finance to meet up with their daily needs. Unfortunately there is very scarce resources at the moment.”
To all workers of the Corporation, Becke says “I have a message of hope. I believe that what keeps all of us going is hope. We have registered a lot of departures, abandonment, resignation and so on. Those who are still hanging on are doing so because of hope. So far, Management has been very open to encourage workers to do farming in areas like the Tiko Plain and in the other Estates. So I encourage workers that we should remain hopeful believing that we will come out of this situation very soon and things will return to normal.”