Cameroonian workers pushed to slavery by Chinese employers

The workers complain of catechist pay, no permanent contracts, no insurance cover, no protective jackets or helmets, and constant threats of dismissal among others.

Cameroonians working for Top International Engineering Corporation Cameroon Ltd-TIEC, the Chinese company contracted by the government to rehabilitate the MolykoOmnisports stadium in Buea, are calling on the authorities to intervene and put a stop to the near inhuman treatment they are subjected to by their employers.

The Cameroonian labourers complain that their conditions of work are not the best and this is in spite of the huge sums the government is paying the Chinese company for the project.

Complaining bitterly to this reporter, one of the labourers, whose name we are withholding for obvious reasons, listed some grievances that they are forced to cope with under the seemingly adamant and cunning Chinese.

He said despite the paltry daily stipend of FCFA 2500 that they are paid; the Chinese do not provide them with the clothing, gloves and helmets that they need to protect themselves as they perform the very hard manual work that are assigned to them by the Chinese.

Our source added that though the Chinese would not enter into any permanent contract with their Cameroonian laborers, they also impose very low pay packages to interested workers; and any attempt to bargain your pay you are shown the door.

“The Chines are taking advantage of the joblessness in Cameroon to be using us as slaves. Despite the risks involved in the jobs we do, they do not provide us with protective jackets or helmets; they do not sign permanent contracts with workers so, there is no insurance against accidents or health.

These Chinese are really wicked,” lamented our source, who added that conscious of the illegal and inhuman treatment that they subject Cameroonians labourers to, the Chinese always make sure they clear off any evidence that can hook them.

“These Chinese are big crooks; they make sure we are clothed with jackets and helmets whenever any Cameroonian authority is visiting the site. Then when we receive our daily stipend of FCFA 2500 , they make sure you sign two forms: one of the forms has the amount (2500frs) mentioned on it while the other form has no amount on it.

Then they stay back and fill in inflated amounts in the form and claim to the authorities that that is what they pay to Cameroonians. And anybody that refuses to sign the two forms is threatened with immediate sack.”

The over 70 Cameroonian labourers at the site say despite repeated complaints that they have made to the governor and the delegate of labour for the SW, there has been no change in their plight.

“We have virtually been abandoned to ourselves by the authorities on whom we counted for protection. The Governor comes regular and only shouts but never bothers to find out if there has been any change the next day.”

The Molyko stadium is one of the stadiums selected to be used as a training ground for the countries that will participate in the Female AFCON in Football to be hosted in Limbe and Yaounde in November this year. The Chinese company is expected to rehabilitate the stadium to provide a tuft of natural fresh grass, dressing rooms, tribunes and other conditions.