Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

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

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) of the Convention. 1. Trafficking in persons. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the adoption of Act No. 2011/024 of 14 December 2011 concerning trafficking in persons, which makes such practice a criminal offence, defines what constitutes trafficking and lays down penalties of imprisonment ranging from ten to 15 years. It also notes the information in the Government’s report concerning four court cases involving the trafficking of women and children, some of which have resulted in the handing down of prison sentences. While noting the important step signified by the adoption of Act No. 2011/024 as regards reinforcing the legal framework for combating trafficking in persons, the Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts by accompanying this process with the adoption of measures to raise awareness of trafficking in persons among the public and the competent authorities, and also to ensure protection for victims so that they are able to assert their rights. It requests the Government to provide information on the decisions and recommendations resulting from meetings of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Supervising the Elimination of Trafficking in Persons (established by Order No. 163/CAB/PM of 2 November 2010) and on the implementation thereof. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the specific measures taken to combat the trafficking of Cameroonian women for sexual exploitation abroad.

2. Freedom of members of the armed services to leave the service of the State. For many years the Committee has been drawing the Government’s attention to 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, under the terms of which career members of the armed forces serving as officers who are recruited by competition sign a contract of indefinite duration, and their resignation may be accepted only on exceptional grounds. The Committee recalled in this regard that persons in the service of the State, including career members of the armed forces, should have the right to leave the service in peacetime within a reasonable period, either at specified intervals or with prior notice, subject to the conditions which may normally be required to ensure the continuity of the service. Noting the Government’s indication that no request for resignation has been brought to its notice, the Committee requests it to ensure that, in practice, consideration is given to any request for resignation on the basis of the abovementioned principle. The Government is also requested to provide relevant statistical information relating to this matter (number of resignation requests submitted, number of resignations accepted or refused and, if applicable, information on the grounds for refusal).

Article 2(2)(b). Work in the general interest forming part of civic obligations. In its previous comments the Committee asked the Government to provide information on the implementation of Act No. 2007/003 of 13 July 2007 instituting national service contributing to development, which comprises a compulsory period and a voluntary period. The compulsory period, lasting 60 days, applies to young persons between 17 and 21 years of age and covers: civic training and physical, sporting and cultural education; consolidation of schooling; training in first aid and civil protection; and awareness raising with regard to environmental protection. The voluntary period, which lasts six months and is renewable, includes the performance of work in the general interest. The Government indicates in its report that a copy of the decree due to establish arrangements and conditions for the participation and supervision of conscripts and volunteers for this service will be sent as soon as it is available. In order to be able to evaluate the scope of the obligations imposed in the context of national service contributing to development, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which participants for this service are selected, particularly for the voluntary period, and also on the organization and nature of activities undertaken during the period of compulsory training. The Government is also requested to send a copy of the decree implementing Act No. 2007/003.

Article 2(e). Minor communal services. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee for combating forced labour in traditional chiefdoms, prisons and private homes. It explains that the payment of wages to traditional chiefs reinforces the autonomy of these authorities with a view to preventing them from having recourse to forced labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that work imposed by traditional chiefs remains within the limits of the exception provided for in Article 2(e) of the Convention concerning minor communal services, namely work on a small scale regarding which the members of the community have been consulted, and which is performed in the direct interest of the community. The Government is also requested to send a copy of any text establishing arrangements for imposing and performing this work.