An agreement to this effect was signed between the Government and the International Labour Organisation on October 22, 2014.

Information from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) indicates that it is not enough to be employed but to be sure that the job is decent enough to ensure the wellbeing of the worker and his family.

It is within this backdrop that the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Grégoire Owona and ILO Deputy Director, Regional Office for Africa, Mrs Dayina Mayenga yesterday, October 22, 2014 in Yaounde signed a protocol agreement for the implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2014-2017.

Through DWCP, Cameroon aims at working out of poverty through the creation of decent jobs and job protection. According to an expert from ILO, Thomas Da Vera Cruz, the engagement by the government to implement the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) was not enough to significantly reduce poverty despite a slight improvement of the macroeconomic framework. With the DWCP, Thomas Da Vera says ILO will assist the government in improving institutional, legislative and regulatory framework, scale up decent and productive job opportunities, participate in tripartite constituents in social dialogue while improving and expanding social security system.  

Given that the norms of a decent job include access to essential health care and minimum income security for all, as well as preventing accidents and occupational diseases at work, the representative of workers said he hopes the signatory of the agreement will make sure the different clauses of the agreement will be implemented especially as employers are more interested in making profit rather than ensuring the well-being of their workers.

The Minister of Labour and Social Security called on the engagement of everybody in making sure that the decent work strategy is properly implemented for the benefit of all especially youths and women.