Douala: Workers in standoff with Source du Pays bosses over forced labour

Construction workers at Source du Pays (Supermont) at Babenga, Douala in the Littoral region are in a standoff with authorities.

The tense atmosphere was established when the construction workers complained about an increase in their working hours.

“We have been working normally from 8AM to 4PM with over time from 4pm to 6pm. We used to have break from 1PM to 2PM…” One of the workers explained.

Last Saturday he explains, their supervisor announced that the break from 1PM to 2PM was no longer going to be included in their regular 8-hour shift, meaning they were now to close at 5PM, a move the workers rejected.

He says “… Yesterday we refused and went out at 4PM and this morning they told us that as we enter to work, we’ll only close at 5PM.”

The authorities he added, threatened that “… anyone who tries to go out will be stopped by the military which will also moving round to ensure everyone is working.”

Decrying the new working conditions, the workers have refused to enter the facility and are standing outside.

The supervisors of the construction site too have remained indifferent as the standoff lasts.

“We are all outside the gate and hoping they will come talk with us but no one has coming showing that we’re not of any importance” one of the construction workers complains.

The next course of action remains uncertain as is no compromise at the moment.

Mimi Mefo Info