ABSTRACT

This research project deals with the protection of rights to work in Cameroon. The right to work is a status every developed society needs in order to have a steady output in all fields and this can only be attained by the fair and equal distribution and protection of this right for everyone. The aim of this study is to outline the various problems faced by the workers in their workplaces in the Cameroonian society, the various laws enacted to protect the rights of workers in Cameroon and the rest of the world. To attain this goal, the doctrinal research method was adopted. The research findings however revealed that, regardless of all the laws enacted to protect workers and help in the protection of their rights in the workplace, there is still a great degree of violation of workers’ rights all over Cameroon. The study therefore recommends that there must be a constant check by the government on the private and political sectors. Also, the government should reinforce its laws on workers.

            CHAPTER 1

                                        GENERAL INTRODUCTION

• BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The coming of the Europeans brought changes in employment relations in Cameroon during the colonial era. During this era paid employment as we have it today officially started. After the signing of the Germano Duala treaty of 1985, the Germans opened plantations in Cameroon in areas such as membea, mbomboko etc. With the advent of these plantations, the Germans had to recruit workers in Cameroon since it was impossible to import German workers due to the harshness in Africa.so workers like intermediaries, collectors and porters were employed.to foster employment security the Germans had to pass a decree in 1896 which governed the recruitment of natives and employers. This decree mandated the labor commissions appointed to each district to respect plantation workers and it also forbade work for more than 10 hours a day.in 1908 the Germans equally passed another law regulating the employment of porters. After the defeat of the Germans in the ww1, they were ousted from Cameroon and the British and French came in.

France on her part introduced the 1952 in former east Cameroon which was largely pro administration and led to massive violation of labor rights in Cameroon. Britain on her part introduced the English for her oversea territories for her Nigerian colonies. Cameroon being part of Nigeria at the time inherited all British laws from Nigeria. Some of these laws included the 1929 labor code ordinance, the 138 trade union ordinance which regulated the functioning of trade unions, the workmen compensation ordinance of 1941 which was meant to make it imperative for employers to compensate employees injuries suffered at work.

After independence in 1960 and 1961 for east and west Cameroons respectively and the subsequent merging of the two Cameroons, there was the need to harmonize the laws inherited from the colonial powers. A bill was presented to the federal assembly for the adoption of a draft labor code. This led to the enactment of the 1967 labor code. This code significant in improving labor relations since it introduced the post of staff representative. The code was later amended in 1974 and 1992 .To this end Yanou argued that it was a replica of the 1967 labor code. However despite the argues raised this eminent professor of laws, the 1992 labor code of Cameroon remains the legislation that governs the substantive an procedural rules that relate to labor matters in Cameroon.