Nexttel at the brink of social crisis

The mobile phone company Nexttel alias Viettel is on the verge of a social crisis. In a report to the Cameroonian government about the state of management of the business by local government officials, we understand, they can no longer bear the way the company is managed in Cameroon.

According to them, "the CEO runs the company alone and takes strategic and tactical decisions without informing his staff, assistant general managers, who are always surprised at the actions taken by the former. This has the effect of creating a permanent conflict within the management team. Several reports have been made but no further action against the Chief."

Other sources report that two assistant general managers have accused the Cameroon Chief, Vietnamese Vu Khanh Duy of locking out management of the company. For them, added the same source, he is importing all directions from the Vietnamese labor force, contrary to specifications.

Moreover, he is criticized by the Director General for establishing the principle of the double signature for the expenses of the company holding exclusive 3G in Cameroon, and the granting of the Vietnamese about 500 positions reserved for nationals.

During the creation of Viettel, it was agreed that during the implementation phase, the Vietnamese would be staffed only as technicians, 200 maximum. But today, unbeknownst to the Cameroonian side, there are nearly 400 Vietnamese positions with administrative, accounting and human resources managers which is everything that goes against the provisions of the Decree of July 15,1992 laying down the conditions of employment of workers of foreign nationality for certain occupations and levels of skill.

According to Article 2 (1) of the Decree, "notwithstanding the provisions of the Labour Code relating to contracts of workers of foreign nationality, laborers, workers or supervisors can be entrusted to a foreigner on presentation of a certificate issued by the departments of labor certifying the lack of Cameroonian workers in the specialty concerned. "

In all cases, to restore calm in the company is to create 6,300 direct and indirect employment the Cameroonian requires neither more nor less than the laws on the personnel situation, the appointment of the head of the Cameroonian dedicated departments of administration, human resources and legal affairs.

Still, the atmosphere has become so intense that the Cameroonian Prime Minister Philemon Yang, had to step in to mediate between the main component responsible for the Vietnamese company.

Despite this initiative to convene the two parties in his services last September, the Cameroonian officials and Vietnamese are always in disagreement. This means one month after the launch of its activities, the 3rd mobile operator is in trouble.