Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1973)

The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government's report in reply to its previous comments. It also notes the detailed information contained in the general report of the awareness-raising seminar on the application of the guaranteed interoccupational minimum wage in a context of economic crisis.

Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee notes in particular the Government's statement to the effect that the guaranteed interoccupational minimum wage (SMIG), established under section 62(1) of the Labour Code, amounts to 23,514 CFA francs and that it has been fixed taking into account the economic crisis, the lack of skills of workers when they are recruited and the cost of living, taking into consideration the current economic situation. It also notes the information contained in the above general report concerning the criteria for the fixing and evaluation of the minimum wage, which include such elements as the nature of activity or service, conditions of work and professional aptitude. The Committee wishes to refer to paragraph 281 of its 1992 General Survey on minimum wages in which it recalls that the minimum wage implies that such a wage must be sufficient for the subsistence needs of workers and their families. It requests the Government to indicate the extent to which the criteria of the subsistence needs of families are taken into account in the determination of the SMIG that is in force.

Article 2, paragraph 1, in conjunction with Article 5 and point V of the report form. The Committee notes the Government's statement to the effect that no inspection report has noted violations of the application of the SMIG. It requests the Government, in accordance with these provisions of the Convention, to continue supplying general information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, including the agricultural sector, for example: (i) the evolution of the SMIG; (ii) available statistical data on the occupations and number of workers covered by the SMIG; and (iii) the results of inspections (cases of violations reported, sanctions imposed, etc.).