BY ELAH GEOFREY MBONGALE
The Cameroon Development Corporation, the highest employer after the state last April 27, 2018 awarded some 1,298 labour medals to workers who have distinguished themselves through hard work and dedication to the company and to the nation.
Amongst the several medals awarded were 320 Gold, 480 Silver Guild and 498 Silver medals. Amongst the recipients were workers still in active service, some on retirement while others received theirs posthumously.
Holding at the precinct of the CDC Labour Club, Bota and presided over by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Gregoire Owona, the award ceremony saw CDC workers stream in from all the areas with CDC presence to witness their colleagues get recongnised by the minister.
Minister Gregoire Owona congratulated the recipients for their competence, dedication, respect of hierarchy and loyalty in their service to the corporation over the years which he says has kept them on the path of success. He encouraged the other workers to follow the examples set by those who were being recognized. He told the recipients that the medals symbolize their level of seniority and a reward to quality service rendered with honesty and discipline.
The minster however regretted the accumulation of medals and the delay to award medals when due. He hoped that the award ceremony takes place every other year to curb the problem.
Minister Owona equally appreciated the performance of the corporation while highlighting efforts put in place by the government to promote development and economic growth in the country. He added tht the excellent and calm social climate in CDC is proof of excellent social dialogue between workers and management for the growth of the enterprisewhich falls in line with this years’ theme for international Labour day ‘’ social dialogue; a factor in the promotion of decent work and socio economic progress in Cameroon”
In his welcome address, the General Manager of CDC, Frankline Ngoni Njie expressed joy that the award ceremony has finally come to pass taking into consideration that the last time such a ceremony was organized by CDC was 14 years ago.
He said management finds it just and timely to celebrate the laureates as they have served the corporation honourable and encourages the entire work force of CDC to work hard since every hard worker deserves a labour medal. He told the workers that the future of the corporation lies in their hard work while reassuring them of management’s constant desire to improve on worker’s pay and working conditions.
Speaking earlier, the staff representative, Efite Andrew thanked minister Owona for the instruction to hold an ADHOC Tripartite Committee which took place on 2nd and 3rd of February 2017 in Buea which ended with resolutions like the organization of medal award ceremonies amongst others.
He also thanked the CDC management for respecting the tripartite agreement to honour devoted workers barely one year after the resolutions. He also commended the continuous efforts to ameliorate the living condition of workers amongst others.
He however appealed to the management to look into some of the problems affecting workers like the prompt and unconditional payment and deduction of workers’ salaries to the National Social Insurance Fund and Credit Unions.
He told the minister that some of the problems are as a result of the current financial situation of the corporation and appealed to the government to assist the corporation in some pertinent areas likemarketing of CDC products, tax exemption and financial assistance. He equally talked on the adverse effect of the socio political crisis in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon which led to the death of two CDC workers; Miss Puh Emelda killed from a stray bullet in Mamfe and Mr. Ewodu Ndjobo brutally killed by unidentified men in Tombel.
He went further to talk on the persistent attack from unidentified men in the following estates of Illoani Palm Estate and Mill, Boa Palms Projects, Mbonge and Tombel Rubber Estates. In light to the above insecurity issues, the workers of CDC through the staff representative appealed to the government to call for an inclusive dialogue to solve the socio political crisis in the country. He feared that if this crisis continues, CDC may have to stop operations in the above mentioned areas which will lead to the suspension of contracts of about 4000 workers
Responding to the preoccupations of the GM and staff representatives, the minister said the government is aware of the socio-political tensions and unrest in the Northwest and Southwest regions and is leaving no stone unturned to address the situation. He said that through social dialogue; the government has made findings to help solve the problem and will not relent until peace is restored in the country.
Earlier, the General Manager of CDC explained that the mission of CDC is to develop extensive plantations of tropical crops which have not change since its creation in 1947. “CDC plantations located mostly in the Southwest region produces about 18 tons of rubber, about 25 tons of crude palm oil and produce above one hundred thousand tons of banana annually. These plantations and the service departments and head offices which support and coordinate these crops groups employ about 20,000 Cameroonians” the GM added.