Lom Pangar hydroelectric dam workers on strike

About 1,500 employees of the Lom Pangar dam construction (East of Cameroon) have gone on strike for an indefinite period. This strike started on Thursday night following demands of improved living and working conditions, as well as their registration for the national social insurance fund (CNPS).

The sub-prefect of Belabo, Maritim Yaya, visited the field to sort out social tension caused by issues surrounding the construction of one of the major projects of the country at the moment.

However, on 5 November, at the end of a crisis meeting on another strike by workers, it was required that the manufacturer, the China International Water Corporation (CWE) company should "meets its commitments and comply with existing labour legislation in Cameroon".

Friction caused is directly linked with registration and social contributions of workers to the CNPS, performance, premiums and allowances, risk of contracting diseases because of filth at construction site.

The contractor was also invited to proceed with the termination of the contract of the Restorer SOFACO which 'notoriously failed in implementing its contractual commitments and its replacement by a new competent provider and having a good financial surface within a maximum period of two weeks'.

They were also requested to produce a list of all cases of accidents at work by workers on the construction site, and clear cases of accidents at work that have not been compensated.

CWE was finally warned "to honour its commitments, in order to help put an end to unwanted work strike that hinders the progress of the construction".