Retirement Age : Cameroonians Welcome Harmonisation

Cameroonians from across the chest board and equally from all strata of society have continued to react to the decision taken by the Head of State, President Paul Biya to harmonise the retirement age of civil servants.
In decree No.2020/802 of 30 December 2020 to harmonise the retirement age of civil servants, President Paul Biya laid to rest persistent complaints by civil servants of some corps that their retirement age should be raised to match with others. Article I of the decree specifies that, “The retirement age of civil servants is, with effect from 1 January 2021, harmonised at 60 years for categories  “A” and “B” civil servants, and 55 years  for categories “C” and “D” civil servants. Article 2 of the decree adds that the measure shall be extended to civil servants who at the date of entry into force of the decree are on a valid official extension of service period.
Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute came in with a follow up decree No. 2020/7951/PM to harmonise the retirement age of State employees governed by the Labour Code.  The decree stated that the retirement age of State employees governed by the Labour Code is, “ with effect from 1 January 2021 harmonised at 60 years for categories  “8” to “12” personnel  and 55 years for categories “1” and “7” personnel.”
Many Cameroonians have considered the measure taken by the President of the Republic as  New Year gift. This is because the decision comes to add five working years to the civil servants and the State employees concerned as in previous texts, and in many corps, categories “A” and “B” civil servants used to retire at 55 years and those of categories “C” and “D” at 50 years. 
The extension of the retirement age means the civil servants and State personnel will for additional five years have a regular and sure means to prepare for retirement and continue ...