Cameroonian workers pushed to slavery by Chinese employers
The workers complain of catechist pay, no
permanent contracts, no insurance cover, no protective jackets or helmets, and
constant threats of dismissal among others.
By Ajongakou Santos in Buea
Cameroonians working for Top International
Engineering Corporation Cameroon Ltd-TIEC, the Chinese company contracted by
government to rehabilitate the MolykoOmnisports stadium in Buea, are calling on
the authorities to intervene and put a stop to the near inhuman treatment they
are subjected to by their employers.
The
Cameroonian labourers complain that their conditions of work are not the best
and this is in spite of the huge sums the government is paying the Chinese
company for the project.
Complaining
bitterly to this reporter, one of the labourers, whose name we are withholding
for obvious reasons, listed a number of grievances that they are forced to cope
with under the seemingly adamant and cunning Chinese. He said despite the
paltry daily stipend of 2500frs that they are paid, the Chinese do not provide
them with the clothing, gloves and helmets that they need to protect themselves
as they perform the very hard manual work that are assigned to them by the
Chinese.
Our
source added that though the Chinese would not enter into any permanent
contract with their Cameroonian laborers, they also impose very low pay
packages to interested workers; and any attempt to bargain your pay you are
shown the door.
“The
Chines are taking advantage of the joblessness in Cameroon to be using us as
slaves. Despite the risks involved in the jobs we do, they do not provide us
with protective jackets or helmets; they do not sign permanent contracts with
workers so, there is no insurance against accidents or health. These Chinese
are really wicked,” lamented our source, who added that conscious of the
illegal and inhuman treatment that they subject Cameroonians labourers to, the
Chinese always make sure they clear off any evidence that can hook them.
“These
Chinese are big crooks; they make sure we are clothed with jackets and helmets
whenever any Cameroonian authority is visiting the site. Then when we receive
our daily stipend of 2500 frs, they make sure you sign two forms: one of the
forms has the amount (2500frs) mentioned on it while the other form has no
amount on it. Then they stay back and fill in inflated amounts in the form and
claim to the authorities that that is what they pay to Cameroonians. And any
body that refuses to sign the two forms is threatened with immediate sack.”
The
over 70 Cameroonian labourers at the site say despite repeated complaints that
they have made to the governor and the delegate of labour for the SW, there has
been no change in their plight.
“We
have virtually been abandoned to ourselves by the authorities on whom we
counted for protection. The Governor comes regular and only shouts but never
bothers to find out if there has been any change the next day.”
The
Molyko stadium is one of the stadiums selected to be used as a training ground
for the countries that will participate in the Female AFCON in Football to be
hosted in Limbe and Yaounde in November this year. The Chinese company is
expected to rehabilitate the stadium to provide a tuft of fresh natural grass,
dressing rooms, tribunes and other conditions.
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