Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1960)

The Committee notes the comments sent in 2013 by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the General Union of Workers of Cameroon (UGTC) concerning violations of trade union rights which have been examined by the Committee on Freedom of Association, as well as the Government’s observations thereon.

For many years the Committee has been asking the Government to provide information on the measures taken to amend or repeal certain legislative provisions which are not in conformity with Articles 2 and 5 of the Convention. The Committee recalls that its previous comments concerned the need to:

• -amend Act No. 68/LF/19 of 18 November 1968 (under the terms of which the existence in law of a trade union or occupational association of public servants is subject to prior approval by the Minister of Territorial Administration);
• -amend sections 6(2) and 166 of the Labour Code (which lays down penalties for persons establishing a trade union which has not yet been registered and acting as if the said union had been registered);
• -repeal section 19 of Decree No. 69/DF/7 of 6 January 1969, under the terms of which trade unions of public servants may not affiliate to an international organization without obtaining prior authorization.

The Committee notes that the Government refers once again to the legislative reform process which is under way, indicating that the Committee’s recommendations would be taken into account. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the legislative reform process which started many years ago (regarding revision of the Labour Code, adoption of the Act concerning trade unions, repeal of regulatory texts which are not in conformity with the Convention) will be completed in the near future and will finally bring the national legislation into line with the provisions of the Convention with respect to the points reiterated above. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on any progress achieved in this regard.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2014.]