In a significant development for the employees of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), the company’s General Manager, Franklin Ngoni Njie, has assured that workers will receive their salary arrears before Christmas. This announcement brings much-needed relief to the CDC workforce, who have faced prolonged financial hardships due to unpaid wages.
Background of the Issue
The CDC, one of Cameroon’s largest employers, has been severely affected by the ongoing socio-political crisis in the Anglophone regions. The conflict has led to material and human losses, with separatist fighters regularly attacking workers in the plantations. These attacks have resulted in deaths, injuries, and kidnappings, forcing the abandonment of some plantation areas and drastically reducing the company’s output and revenue.
Government Intervention
On July 10, 2024, the government signed an agreement to address the CDC’s financial woes. This agreement involved the ceding of a significant portion of the CDC’s debt, totaling about 91 billion FCFA, to the government. The debt included 24 billion FCFA from the national social insurance fund and 31 billion FCFA in prescribed debt. The personnel debt, covering the period from May 2018 to December 2022, was also included in this agreement.
Assurance from the General Manager
Speaking over CRTV Southwest on December 19, 2024, Franklin Ngoni Njie confirmed that the government intends to disburse the funds before the end of the year, ideally before Christmas. He stated, “The government has the intention that disbursement should be made before this year runs out as much as possible before Christmas”.
Workers’ Protests and Reactions
Before this announcement, CDC workers had staged numerous protests throughout the year, demanding the payment of their salaries. The non-payment of wages had led to significant unrest among the workforce, who had gone without pay for extended periods. The assurance of receiving their arrears before Christmas has been met with relief and optimism among the workers.
