The new minimum wage was the recommendation of the National Consultative working Commission (NCWC) meeting in Yaounde on Wednesday and Thursday last week. The conclave brought together government officials, worker representatives and trade union leaders.

This 17th session of the NCWC had as objective to look into the measures prescribed by government to accompany its decision to cut fuel subsidy and raise fuel prices.

A major point on the agenda of the conclave was the proposed decree increasing the guaranteed minimum wage for all sectors of the economy and another proposed decree revising allocations of family allowance provided by CNPS. The aim was to come up with a unique text on social security in Cameroon.

It emerged from the conclave that the government was ready to raise the minimum wage from 28,160 FCFA to 36, 270 FCFA.

This figure was not adopted without contestations. Jean Mark Bikoko, president of the public sector workers syndicate, CSP, cried scandal, saying that 60.000 FCFA as the minimum wage could be acceptable not 36,270 FCFA, which he considered an insult to Cameroonian workers. He said 36000 could hardly sustain an average family in Cameroon.

Other workers representatives wanted the government to fix separate minimum wages for the agricultural sector and other sectors. But in the end it was the amount proposed by government that was adopted 36.270 FCFA.

Jean-Marc Bikoko like other trade unionists concluded that the government was insensitive to the plight of its citizens.