Negotiations held last week in Douala following the increase in the price of fuel and domestic gas was impartial. After negotiating with three government Ministers and top officials of national security in charge of the Police and Gendarmerie, representatives of syndicates in the transport sector agreed to call off the national strike which was to begin this Monday 7th July 2014.
The communiqué that sanctioned the meeting signed by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Gregoire Owona stated that; “On this day, 5th July 2014, there was a concertations meeting between the Minister of Labour and Social Security and syndicates of the transport sector following a planned strike action which was to have taken effective on Monday 7th July 2014.
After examining all the demands presented by trade unions; demands which were considered pertinent and justifiable were discussed. The Minister of Labour and Social Security argued that government is engaged in finding lasting solutions to the problems raised. He asked and obtained a one month period for government to seek solutions to the problems.
Concerning the recent price increase of fuel and gas; government will, in addition to the accompanying measures that have already been made public, concert with competent professionals within the sector for an eventual readjustment of taxi fares, taking into account the interest of all the parties concerned. Following the agreement, all syndicates of the sector called off the planned strike.”
The communiqué signed with representatives of close to twenty syndicates to put an end to fears concerning a repeat of the 2008 deadly riots in Cameroon.
