Source du Pays workers protest ‘slave’ treatment

Workers of the water and drinks packaging company, Source du Pays say the company’s management refers to them as “slaves and monkeys”. The workers say they work under extreme conditions.

On Monday, August 4, 2014, the workers staged an industrial strike action at the production unit at mile two-nine in Muyuka Subdivision to protest against “inhuman working conditions they are subjected to by the management of the company that is largely made up of Lebanese expatriates.”

“The Lebanese in the company call us slaves and black monkeys. We feel that this is very bad and we cannot continue to be silent,” a worker who pleaded for anonymity for fear of victimisation said.

Henry Ajom, staff representative at Source du Pays told The Sun that they organised the one-day industrial strike because “management has refused severally to look into our problems.”

According to him they want the salaries of the workers to be increased, workers classified with respect to their functions, provision of personnel protective equipment, provision of a canteen for workers among others.

Pascal Ogen corroborated Henry Ajom, adding that there is only paracetamol in the infirmary of the mile two-nine unit of Source du Pays and that the workers are arbitrarily classified and are sent on annual leave without any document.

“I was sent on annual leave on July 26, but my salary was not paid. I wonder how they want me to cope while on leave,” one of the aggrieved workers said. The striking workers also said resolutions taken in 2012 regarding the improvement of working conditions have never been implemented.

They say the immediate course of the strike action was the publication of a service note on July 30 indicating that workers production bonuses will be slashed by 50% or even suspended following allegations of misconduct on the part of the workers.

Some workers told The Sun that when the strike began, members of the administrative staff were indifferent.

The Chief of Service for Commercials, Amo Karma could be seen begging the workers to give an opportunity for dialogue. The workers refused to heed to his call.

The Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Fako, Zang III was called in to help broker peace, given that the Sub-Divisional Officer for Muyuka was not on seat.

When the SDO came, he chaired a closed-door meeting attended by the Divisional Delegate for Labour and Social Security for Fako, workers representatives, some Source Du Pays top management staff and the President of the Fako Divisional Union of Trade Unions, Ngale Ngomba.

The Sun learnt that during the meeting, it was resolved that protective equipment for workers will be provided by September and the SDO is expected to set up a committee that will be chaired by the Fako Delegate of Labour and Social Security. The committee will be expected to ensure that contracts are established for workers, job descriptions clearly spelt out and workers reclassified.

Ngale Ngomba told The Sun that the SDO ordered that the workers’ plights be given urgent and adequate attention within three months.

The Factory Director, Ossama El Ali took a commitment on behalf of management to improve on the conditions of the workers. Management of Source du Pays production unit in Muyuka turned down our request for an interview.

In the meantime, Ngale Ngomba has asked the workers to remain committed to work and give time for their grievances to be looked into.

We gathered that the basic salary of the least paid worker at Source du Pays is FCFA48,000. We also learnt that the workers are entitled to bonuses depending on the company’s turn over.