Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes the observations of the General Union of Workers of Cameroon (UGTC), received on 7 December 2023, which relate to issues examined by the Committee in the present comment.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Adequate protection against acts of anti-union discrimination and interference. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the observations of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the United Workers’ Confederation of Cameroon (CTUC) and the UGTC denouncing acts of anti-union discrimination and interference in numerous sectors.

The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not provided the expected information on the reports of anti-union practices which have been highlighted for many years. The Government merely indicates in general terms that no acts of discrimination or interference in trade union activities have been observed, and that the allegations of dismissals in the wood industry are too general to enable it to provide any clarification. The Committee once again reminds the Government of its responsibility to take time-bound and decisive action to investigate the reported cases of anti-union discrimination and interference, and to take corrective measures without delay and impose appropriate penalties if it is found that the trade union rights established by the Convention have been violated in certain administrations or enterprises. The Committee once again urges the Government to provide detailed information in this regard.

With reference to the observations received from the UGTC in October 2016 on the worsening of trade union discrimination against the leaders of the National Trade Union of Employees and Managers of Banks and Financial Establishments of Cameroon (SNEGCBEFCAM) within the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS), the Committee previously noted that a court decision had been handed down in favour of the workers who had been dismissed but that the CNPS had appealed against the decision. The Committee urges the Government to provide all relevant information on this matter.

Article 4. Right to collective bargaining in practice. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the national collective agreement for agriculture and allied activities was signed on 6 January 2023.

In its previous comments, the Committee noted the 2016 observations of the Cameroon Workers’ Trade Union Confederation (CSTC) and the 2020 observations of the ITUC alleging that in practice unrepresentative organizations were designated in committees for negotiating national collective agreements and in other institutions. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide its comments on these observations and to indicate the measures taken by the authorities to encourage and promote collective bargaining, in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing information on the number of collective agreements signed and in force, in both the public and private sectors, indicating the sectors concerned and the number of workers covered by the agreements.

The Committee notes the UGTC’s 2023 allegations concerning the collective agreement applicable to the staff of the CNPS. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the CNPS “withdrew” in 2011 from the national collective agreement for banks and other financial establishments, in view of the specific nature of the CNPS and the requirements of the Inter-African Conference on Social Insurance (CIPRES), which resulted in its “disengagement” vis-à-vis the SNEGCBEFCAM. The Committee notes that the UGTC asserts, on the other hand, that the collective agreement for banks remains applicable and that the workers who had recourse to the courts to demand the application of the collective agreement won their case. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that a collective agreement relating to social security is being drafted. In view of the conflicting information brought to its attention, the Committee requests the Government to provide any additional information, including any court decisions, relating to the applicability to the CNPS of the collective agreement for banks. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the mechanism by which the CNPS is bound to this collective agreement, and the procedures for denunciation of the agreement referred to by the Government. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the drafting of a collective agreement relating to social security mentioned by the Government.