To promote decent work, staff’s social security: FEICOM signs company collective agreement with gov´t.

The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Gregoire Owona, signed for the government while the Director General, DG, of FEICOM, Camille Philippe Akoa, penned for his institution.

Camille Akoa used the event to trace the road FEICOM has covered in its drive to provide the best working conditions and privileges for its workforce. 

He said since 2012, FEICOM has not relented in ensuring that staff salaries, allowances and other indemnities are reviewed upward. 

Camille Akoa said the situation has not only reduced poverty within its labour force but ensure they enjoy the standards set by the International Labour Organisation, ILO.

The FEICOM boss recalled that the signed agreement was in its fourth edition since he took up the mantle of leadership of the institution.  Following several reviews, he said staff salaries have improved. 

The agreement of Tuesday, Camille Akoa said, will result in a five percent salary increase. Other benefits, he said will improve according to every staff’s status.

Workers in the newly introduced decentralised agencies, he said will also benefit from the provisions of the agreement. 

With the current agreement, Camille Akoa said whether one is working at the central or decentralised services of FEICOM, entitlements will be the same depending on ranks.

He said his management has always remained opened to the concerns of staff. “That is why you never hear of sit-ins, strikes or street protests being carried out by FEICOM workers,” Akoa boasted.

The DG then thanked Minister of Labour and Social Security for the support given him in his drive to improve the wellbeing of FEICOM staff.

Minister restates gov’t’s commitment 

Minister Gregoire Owona recalled how a committee comprising management staff of FEICOM and representative of related Ministries was put in place to look into proposals made by the different stakeholders. 

After 16 months of work, he said all parties approved the document that was signed Tuesday.

He said the agreement is in the spirit of the unending drive of President Paul Biya to make sure that Cameroonian workers get the best for their services rendered to the State.

The minister stressed that it was also the ambition of the Head of State to give the best to workers that the minimum wage in the country has continued to witness upward reviews.

Minister Owona also lauded the management style of the Director General of FEICOM. He said Camille Akoa’s leadership has made FEICOM not only to steer clear of labour unrest, but to also win managerial prizes from international watchdog bodies.

The minister encouraged the Director General to continue to remain committed to improving the wellbeing of staff. “Be the Camille Akoa we know wherever you go,” Minister Owona urged.

He called on Cameroonian workers to continue to exercise restrain when presenting demands or expressing grievances. The minister assured workers that the government will always look into their propositions if they are reasonable.

He alluded that just as the agreement with FEICOM was being signed, and, other Cameroonians are already agitating, asking for upward review of salaries in view of the removal of fuel subsidies.