Telecommunication workers protest, decry ‘exaggerated’ rights abuse

Workers of Nexttel mobile telephone company in six out of the ten regions of Cameroon protested today Thursday June 11th 2020.

At the Nexttel head Office – Akwa Douala, the disgruntled workers dressed in black, carried placards with inscriptions like “No to work without contract”, “No to abusive dismissal”, ” Show respect to workers and implement labour code” among others.

To these workers, the management of Nextel has permanently violated the rights of workers with impunity. “The management has over the year subdued us. First, we don’t have staff representatives that can channel our problems to the labour office. The administration stops us from electing delegates.” A worker told Mimi Mefo Info.

To them, collective agreement of telecommunications be respected. The workers equally regret that people posted in risk zones in the North and South West Regions are not accorded security allowance as stipulated.

It should be recalled that though Nextel is owned by a Vietnamese, Cameroon business tycoon Al Hadj Baba Danpulo owns the highest shares.

To some of the workers, Baba Danpulo has been using money meant to ameliorate the living conditions of workers to satisfy the regime in place. The business magnet recently donated 100 million francs cfa to the government for the fight against coronavirus.

Authorities of nextel company through their legal adviser say the grievances are not valid. To them, there will be no salary cut adding that staff representatives will be elected after coronavirus pandemic.

Mimi Mefo Info