Workers at the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC say their life is getting harder by the day, owing to the fact that they have not been paid salaries for several months now.
With its plantations based primarily in the South West, one of two regions hard hit by raging conflict, the State corporation had earlier said it could no longer pay it’s workers.
Christopher Etogo, a builder for the corporation says he has not been paid for a full year now though his responsibilities keep skyrocketing.
“I’m taking care of my children, my wife and her brothers, it’s a very difficult task” he says. This being the back to school period he adds, makes it more challenging as more is required of him as a parent.
“None of my three kids has even resumed school yet because there is no money” Christopher told Mimi Mefo Info.
Another worker of the corporation Bisong William, shares a similar view adding that, even his 18-year long experience has not been able to help him. “I have kids to send to school and the CDC is my only source of income” he says.
“We are begging on the government to come to our rescue” William told Mimi Mefo Info.
CDC workers it should be recalled have also constantly come under attacks. Some workers have testified that their fingers and toes were amputated by separatist fighters. Soldiers in search of pro independence fighters have equally attacked plantation workers.
The company has suffered a huge financial loss and laid off thousands of workers as a result of the Anglophone crisis. In August 2019, CDC which is Cameroon’s second largest employer said, it may be forced to downsize because thousands of workers have fled fighting between security forces and separatists seeking an independent English-speaking state.
It’s Director General, Franklin Njie said CDC’s gross revenue has dropped by 75 percent. He said if the attacks continue, they may be forced to lay off as many as 5,000 workers.
Today, reports says atleast 10.000 if CDC’s 20.000 workers, were either laid off their duty or force to flee violence in the region.
The Anglophone crisis which began as a peaceful protest in 2016, morphed into an armed conflict in 2017 when soldiers indescriminately shot at armless civilians and arrested peaceful protesters.
Mimi Mefo Info
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