Veritable Show of Employment, Social Security Programmes

Seven institutions are actively participating in the 8th session of the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission in Yaounde.

Deliberations at the 8th session of the African Union Labour and Social Affairs Commission of which the technical component opened at the Yaounde Conference Centre last Monday, April 11, is not only limited to paper presentations. Government and private institutions have since the beginning of the confab been exhibiting their products at the external hall of the centre. Seven of them were present when the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang and his entourage visited the stands. These include: for the ministries, the Ministry of Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Social Economy and Handicraft, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Tourism and for the private and public institutions, the National Employment Fund, National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS), International Labour Organisation, and Samaris Insurance Company.

The whole exercise has to do with explaining to members of the public the activities each of the organizations is involved in, in connection with employment and social security. And so, all the necessary brochures were on hand for those who will have time to read. For visitors who may not have enough of such reading time, they prefer getting information direct from the horse’s own mouth.

The presence of a stand from the National Employment Fund is quite evident considering the role this structure has so far played in providing jobs and job openings for young Cameroonians. Exhibitors are ready to go the extra mile to explain how to get assistance from the NEF. The NEF for instance, can provide financial support to people opening businesses to the tune of 80 percent of total investment, but for this to happen, one must first of all register at the NEF. These and many others are some of the things explained in the numerous brochures distributed to visitors.

The National Social Insurance Fund on its part is telling the story of how it caters for employers through the payment of pension, handling of accidents at work and payment of family allowances. Anyone wishing to understand how pensions, family allowances and risk allowances are calculated are readily provided answers at the stand.

The International Labour Organisation on its part is there to remind people of the importance of employment and social protection in the new democratic context where social dialogue promotion must be intensified.

In effect, the exhibitions constitute an important part of the 8th session of the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission which participants have not failed to take note of.

LUKONG Pius NYUYLIME