The legal framework is not favourable to trade unions despite some constitutional guarantees. For example, a union cannot include workers from both the private and public sector, and workers who organise a union and carry out trade union activities without having a registration certificate are liable for prison sentences. In addition, despite promises of reform, public servants may not form trade unions unless they obtain prior approval from the Minister for Territorial Administration. As well, they may not affiliate internationally without prior authorisation.
Although anti-union discrimination
anti-union discrimination
Any practice that disadvantages a worker or a group of workers on grounds of their past, current or prospective trade union membership, their legitimate trade union activities, or their use of trade union services. Can constitute dismissal, transfer, demotion, harassment and the like.
See Guide to the ITUC international trade union rights framework
is prohibited in law and coupled with sanctions, reinstatement or compensation is not available for unfairly dismissed workers.
Finally, the right to strike
strike
The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.
See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike
is heavily restricted as arbitration
arbitration
A means of resolving disputes outside the courts through the involvement of a neutral third party, which can either be a single arbitrator or an arbitration board. In non-binding arbitration, the disputing parties are free to reject the third party’s recommendation, whilst in binding arbitration they are bound by its decision. Compulsory arbitration denotes the process where arbitration is not voluntarily entered into by the parties, but is prescribed by law or decided by the authorities.
See conciliation, mediation
is compulsory for all industrial disputes and workers who ignore the procedures can be dismissed or fined. Civil servants do not have the right to strike
strike
The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.
See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike
.
In recent years, the government has relied on registration procedures, which are too fluid in law and in practice in order to prevent the registration of trade unions it deems too independent and favours organisations it considers easier to control. In terms of national social dialogue social dialogue Discussion and co-operation between the social partners on matters of common interest, such as economic and social policy. Involves participation by the state where tripartism is practice. , the government accorded equal status to the six national trade union centres even though during the last social elections in 2007 (restricted to the private sector even though the law also allows this in the public sector), only two of these centres obtained more than 5% of the votes.
According to a 2010 ILO
International Labour Organization
A tripartite United Nations (UN) agency established in 1919 to promote working and living conditions. The main international body charged with developing and overseeing international labour standards.
See tripartism, ITUC Guide to international trade union rights
report, the antidemocratic nature of the government has rubbed off on numerous so-called trade union organisations, utterly lacking in ethics with corrupt management and supported by the employers.
On 11 November, seven leaders of the Central syndicale du secteur public (CSP) including the President, Jean-Marc Bikoko, were arrested during a peaceful sit-in in Yaoundé. They intended to present the Prime Minister with a series of demands to improve working and living conditions. The gathering in front of the Primature had been banned by the municipal authorities because the request had not been made within the legal timeframe and because “public demonstrations with a vindictive nature and/or protests are and remain forbidden by law in the Mfoundi region”. The seven trade unionists were freed two days later after being charged with demonstrating illegally and disturbing public order.
Since it was formed in 2004, the authorities have also been hostile to the CSP, the main public service workers national federation. The May Day celebrations that the CSP regularly organises outside the official commemoration are suppressed and their leaders are often victims of intimidation.