Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1960)

Article 2, paragraph 2(b) and (e), of the Convention. Work in the general interest forming part of civic obligations. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, under section 2(5)(b) of the Labour Code of 1992, the term “forced or compulsory labour” does not include “any work or service in the general interest forming part of the civic obligations of citizens, as defined by laws and regulations”. It requested the Government to specify the nature of the work or services which might be considered work or services in the general interest that form part of normal civic obligations.

In its previous direct request, the Committee noted the information provided by the Government that work or services of general interest could be defined in the context of the Bill instituting national civic service. It noted the subsequent adoption of Act No. 2007/003 of 13 July 2007 instituting a National Service for Participation in Development. It observed that this latter service includes a compulsory period and a voluntary period. The compulsory period, of a duration of 60 days, concerns young persons between 17 and 21 years of age and covers: civic training and physical, sporting and cultural education; the consolidation of schooling; training on first aid and civil protection; and awareness raising on the protection of the environment. The voluntary period, consisting of a period of six months which may be renewed, includes the performance of work in the general interest. The Committee also noted that the arrangements and conditions for the participation and supervision of conscripts and volunteers for this service shall be determined by decree of the President of the Republic. As the Government has not provided the information requested in its previous direct request, the Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on the effect given in practice to this Act, including on the selection of participants for this service, particularly with regard to the voluntary period, and on the organization and the nature of the activities undertaken during the period of compulsory training. It once again requests the Government to provide a copy of the regulations issued under the Act.

The Committee once again requests the Government to provide a copy of any other text referring to the obligation of citizens to perform work in the general interest, including work performed in the interest of the village community or the village chief.

Freedom of members of the armed services to leave the service of the State. In its previous direct request, the Committee noted the Government’s indication that to its knowledge no cases involving requests to resign by members of the armed services have been brought to the attention of the competent authorities. As, under sections 53 and 55 of Act No. 80/12 of 14 July 1980 issuing the general conditions of service of members of the armed forces, career members of the armed forces serving as officers who are recruited by competition sign a contract without limit of time and their resignation may be accepted only on exceptional grounds, the Committee previously requested the Government to continue providing information on any applications to resign by career members of the armed forces brought to the attention of the competent authorities, and in cases of refusal, the reasons given, if any. As the Government has not provided the information requested, the Committee trusts that it will be in a position to provide this information in its next report.

Trafficking in persons. In its previous direct request, the Committee expressed the hope that the Government would provide information on the measures adopted to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, and particularly trafficking of women from Cameroon for purposes of sexual exploitation. It requested the Government to provide information on the punishment of persons engaging in trafficking in persons, the prosecutions initiated against them, the manner in which the victims of trafficking are encouraged to turn to the authorities and the protection provided for them, as well as the difficulties encountered by the public authorities in preventing and combating trafficking in persons. The Committee notes the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (document CEDAW/C/CMR/CO/3 of 10 February 2009, 43rd Session). In its observations, CEDAW expresses concern at “the increase in the State party of trafficking and exploitation of women for commercial ends. It also regrets that most of the initiatives of the State party in this context address children …”, such as the adoption of Act No. 2005/015 of December 2005 respecting trafficking in children and slavery, “… and that there are no specific strategies to address the problem of the exploitation and prostitution of women”.

The Committee recalls that trafficking in persons for the purposes of their exploitation falls within the definition of forced or compulsory labour contained in Article 2(1) of the Convention. In the absence of information on this point in the Government’s latest report, and in view of the observations made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women at its 43rd Session, the Committee requests the Government to provide the information already requested in its next report.