Editorial: Labour Day; Sidelining safety of Cameroon workers!.

The International Monetary Fund, IMF, in one of its reports, writes that: "Climate change is an imminent threat to the people and the economy of Cameroon. It is expected to result in significant output losses, exacerbate poverty and inequality, food insecurity and conflict risk, leading to increased population displacement".

In drawing attention to climate change hazards to workers, the ILO, in a statement, noted that staggering number of workers, amounting to more than 70 percent of the global workforce, are “likely to be exposed to climate-change-related health hazards, and existing occupational safety and health protections are struggling to keep up with the resulting risks.

In a report titled: "Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate", the ILO pointed out that climate change is already having a serious impact on the safety and health of workers in all parts of the world.

The ILO estimates that more than 2.4 billion workers (out of a global workforce of 3.4 billion), are likely to be exposed to excessive heat at some point during their work.

In addition, the report estimates that “18,970 lives and 2.09 million disability-adjusted lives are lost annually, due to the 22.87 million occupational injuries, which are attributed to excessive heat", which Cameroonians have recently been complaining about.

Beyond exposure to excessive heat, the report adds that climate change is creating a “cocktail of hazards”, which result in a range of dangerous health conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, kidney dysfunction and mental health conditions.

Paradoxically, Cameroon has set aside these concerns about the numerous perils and focused its celebration on a different theme. 

In a press release signed on April 9, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Grégoire Owona, revealed that the theme of the 138th edition of International Labour Day is: "Constructive social dialogue: Vector of decent work and social progress”.

In the release, he invited private companies, public and para-public establishments, as well as public administrations wishing to participate in the workers' parade planned at the May 20 Boulevard in Yaounde, as a major activity of the celebration of Labour Day, to indicate their presence.

While presiding over the official launch of the start of commemorative activities of the 138th edition of International Labour Day on April 24, at the esplanade of the Société Sucrière du Cameroun, SOSUCAM, in Nkoteng, Minister Gregoire Owona gave reasons for diverting from the theme recommended by the ILO.

“Constructive social dialogue: Vector of decent work and social progress”, he explained, is the appropriate Cameroon theme because of   government's commitment  through social dialogue that "we must in ordinary times as well as in times of crisis seek consensual solutions to the problems encountered in the professional environment, negotiate and agree on realistic progress within the world of work, in order to achieve decent work, a guarantee of social progress for all".

By way of illustration, Minister Gregoire Owona recalled that despite the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a slowdown in economic activities, the virtues of social dialogue made it possible to sign the SOSUCAM collective company agreement with management.

That accord, he said, brought major innovations in the management system as well as more attractive salary adjustments.  

In the same vein, and in view of the progress resulting from the social dialogue observed at SOSUCAM, Grégoire Owona reassured social partners on the availability of the labour administration to promote constructive social dialogue, with a view to respecting workers' rights and preserving the production tool.

At The Guardian Post, we understand that promoting the rights of workers is one of the key components of Labour Day, which themes are chosen every year to reflect worker's urgent concerns. 

This year, it is about climate change. Given the complaints of extreme heat reported daily in Cameroon, Yaounde should have placed its own hub on the global theme.

It is however not late. Cameroon should, in its dialogue programme, adapt workplace safety measures to mitigate heat risks. Such crucial workplace programmes should include robust risk assessments that consider climate-related hazards.

Other strategies as recommended by ILO might include: Modifying work schedules to cooler times of the day, enhancing the availability of cooling areas and protecting clothing. 

As climate experts point out, "ignoring the implications of climate change on workplace safety could lead to, not only increased health risks for employees, but also reduced productivity and heightened liability for businesses. It is time for proactive measures that integrate climate resilience into the heart of workplace safety strategies, ensuring a safe and sustainable working environment for all".