By Stephen TADAHA
Workers’ Trade Unions in Cameroon want the minimum wage to be increased to at least FCFA 100,000 in response to the increase in the prices of petroleum products.
This is one of the major proposals made known on Monday February 19, 2024 in a meeting between some workers’ trade union organizations and the Minister of labour and social security, Gregoire Owona.
During the meeting, the trade unionists expressed their desire to see the government immediately put in place some measures that will facilitate their adaptation to the increase in the prices fuel at fueling stations. More to that, they expressed their desire to see an increase in the minimum wage in Cameroon even though not applied in every sector. The minimum wages per sector in the country currently stands at FCFA 41,875 for state agents as stated in the labour code, FCFA 45,000 for the agricultural sector and FCFA 60,000 for other sectors.
These trade unionists say they want the minimum wage, particularly in the public sector to
be increased.
‘We have requested that collective conventions be reviewed and negotiated. It is in this way that the living standards of all workers can be increased,’ Isaac Bissala, leader of a trade union declared.
‘We have requested that the minimum wage be increased to FCFA 100,000’ Pierre Louis Mouangue, another unionist declared.
Apart from the the above-mentioned proposals, the trade unionists also requested the following:
Increase in family allowance from FCFA 2 800 to FCFA 4 500.
Old age allowance be increased from FCFA 300 000 to FCFA 750 000 as from the month of February 2024.
Before taking any decision that will impact the lives of workers and companies, the government should consult social partners.
The Government promised to give its point of view after it must have thoroughly examined the proposals.
Source: Cameroon News Agency
Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is a good example in Africa where big push forward has been seen on tree planting, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen said.
The UNEP Executive Director, who participated at the 37th Ordinary Summit of AU, told ENA that Ethiopia has been planting billions of trees that will fix the soil and create greater nutrients in it as a crucial and pragmatic response to mitigate the climate catastrophe in the country and beyond.
The Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) being implemented in Ethiopia was launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in June 2019, and has so far planted over 32.5 billion tree seedlings.
So, Andersen stated that if ‘we take, for example Ethiopia where a big push forward has been on tree planting. This is very interesting. It’ll fix the soil and create greater nutrients in the soil. It’ll also prevent landslides and get greater water absorption.’
According to Andersen, these kinds of environmental programs and projects are good not only for the local
but also for the global economy. And ‘we’re very pleased to see those kinds of initiatives here in Ethiopia.’
She further stated that major crises have been occurring as a result of climate change, particularly hard hitting on Africa.
‘Due to climate change, we are witnessing major losses on our agricultural lands and we are seeing desertification. Now these crises are particularly hard hitting on Africa. Africa did very little to cause climate change. But Africa is suffering big time,’ the executive director noted.
Andersen further revealed that the United Nations is supporting Ethiopia as well as the entire continent with investments with smart policy shifts.
The UN is firm about the imperative of climate justice and the imperative of climate finance, the executive director underscored.
She also mentioned the recent loss and damage Fund with 800 million USD, which she believes is not enough.
The executive director stressed that ‘we need to see billions.’
Source: Ethiopian News Agency