Cameroonians accuse Chinese company of technically dismissing them

Over one hundred Cameroonians working with a Chinese Water construction company in Bachenga; Lekie division in centre region of Cameroon say they have been “technically dismissed” by the company.

One of the workers writing to Mimi Mefo Info on the basis of anonymity says “We were sent on technical leave four months ago by Sinomach company on account that they were limiting workers to reduce risk of spreading coronavirus pandemic in the company. They promised to pay us 50% of our salary while we are home but the company is not respecting that”.

According to the Cameroonians working in the water project, Sinomach company sent only Cameroonians on “technical leave” four months ago while all Chinese and other foreigners in the company and working full time unperturbed.

Our informant says “my salary in a month is over one hundred thousand francs if I work on Sundays.While on technical leave, the company gives me just 20.000f cfa which is not half of what I earn.The money is really insignificant”.

The Cameroonians are accussing Sinomach company for using the outbreak of coronavirus in Cameroon to abusively dismiss Cameroonian workers without paying them what they deserve.

“Other Cameroonian workers have been placed on quarantine with instructions not the leave the area” another worker has stated.

Questioned why they have not reported their problem to authorities in Lekie division,one of the workers says “We are afraid that if the company discover they will out rightly dismiss the person that have reported to the officials. That is our fear and you know we live in a country where our local authorities does not really work in our favour. They receive money from foreigners and when Chinese maltreat us they don’t react.”

Mimi Mefo Info has written to the director of human resource manager of Sinomach company several times to no avail.

Recently, Cameroon Employers Association known in its French acronym as GICAM said 53.346 Cameroonians are on technical leave as a result of coronavirus pandemic while 13.834 others have lost their jobs.

Mimi Mefo Info.