By Daniel D.
Cameroonians across the nation gathered at Divisional Headquarters to celebrate International Labour Day amidst a backdrop of economic challenges and declining employment opportunities.
The day was marked with various activities, including marching past, speeches, and night festivities.
Heads of institutions extended their well-wishes to the workers, but behind the facade of celebration lay deep-seated issues of anguish and deplorable working conditions.
Despite the festivities, many workers struggle with low wages, unpaid salaries, and a lack of other motivations.
The take-home pay for most workers is insufficient to sustain their families, leading to financial strain and dependency ratios that exceed 81 percent.
While workers face financial hardship, bosses enjoy lavish lifestyles, exacerbating the wealth gap in society.
The disparity between the living standards of workers and those in positions of power is stark, with many workers unable to afford medical bills, education fees, or even basic necessities.
Cameroon’s unemployment statistics paint a bleak picture, with the Central African nation experiencing a slight increase in the unemployment rate from 3.8 percent to 3.7 percent last year.
The ongoing conflicts in the North West and South West, as well as the refugee crisis in the east, have further exacerbated the employment situation, with many people losing their jobs due to instability and violence.
According to the Nkafu Policy Institute, over 2 million people have lost their livelihoods since the beginning of the Anglophone Crisis, while the Crisis Group reported in 2019 that over 6,000 formal economy jobs have been lost, with 8,000 more under threat.
Despite the challenges faced by workers, the minimum wage in Cameroon has seen minimal increases since 1992, rising from FCFA 19,000 to FCFA 43,969 in 2024.
This is insufficient to keep pace with the rising cost of living, with the monthly cost for a single person estimated at FCFA 1,056,313.
Many families struggle to afford basic necessities, as prices continue to soar.
In 2023, per capita income in Cameroon stood at 1,711 FCFA, highlighting the economic disparity between the average citizen and the cost of living.
As Cameroonians celebrated the 139th edition of International Labour Day, there is a collective hope that the government will address governance issues and implement solutions to stimulate job creation and improve living standards for all citizens.
