Labour Minister promises to resolve CTE workers’ problems

Immaculate Akwanga

The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Mr Robert Nkili, has made a firm promise to Tole Cameroon Tea Estate (CTE) workers that he will solve their problems. He was addressing the representatives of some workers on strike at the social Insurance Centre (CNPS) in Buea last January 19, while on a working visit in Buea to inspect the new CNPS site situated around the Mile-17 motor park in Buea. According to the workers, the sale of the CDC tea sector to CTE has not done them any good especially those of who were verbally transferred who are slightly over 300 in number, with some 240 of them laid off.

They equally complained of non-payments of terminal benefits, and abusive dismissals which have resulted to social crisis in the CTE.
As such, they can no longer send their children to school or even get medical attention when, they are sick. Minister Nkili received these complains with shock as he said that he expected these problems to have been solved at the level of the company. He bitterly frowned at the fact that these workers cannot send their children to school, while some die due to lack of care.
He however said that he will convene a special meeting with the Prime Minister to provide a lasting solution to the problem. "I will solve your problem," Robert Nkili promised the workers.
The next stop was the new CNPS site in Buea where the Labour Minister inspected construction works to house the services of the Social Insurance Fund for the South West Province. Here, he was very impressed with the work done so far. "I am very happy that it is only one year and we have such a magnificent building," he said.
He thanked the director of Fokou-Foberd the construction company, Mr Fokou, for the work done so far, and called on the workers to put in their best so that by the time the building is finished, it will be a breath taker. He told the Mayor of the Buea Council, Mbella Moki Charles, that the building will serve as a touristic site for all visitors in Buea, and as such, it should always be kept clean and decorated by beautiful flowers and trees.
For his part, Mr Domfanzali Laurent, an engineer at the National Social Insurance Fund in Yaounde, said that this building is more special than a similar one put up in Ebolowa because the fund has taken into consideration the old pensioners, and by adding a special structure of about 500 square metre to the main building, it is aimed at making pensioners feel at ease each time they come for their pension. "Pensioners will no more be exposed to sun or rain, they will have fresh water to drink, toilets and better medical care in this special building," Mr Laurent said. He estimated the work to end by November 2006.
The Minister has therefore promised to be back by the end of the year to accompany a higher authority for the inauguration of the building, as he says that “I am not able to inaugurate this building, it is very important.”