Employment : Valorising Scarce Jobs!

Workers from both public and private sectors in Cameroon joined the rest of the world on Friday May 1, 2026 to celebrate the 140th edition of the International Labour Day. It was the climax of intense and diverse weeklong activities that celebrated progress in labour matters and sought ways of making work and its environment even more conducive for better output. If the general theme revolved around ensuring a psychosocial working environment, which entails a proactive risk management approach, reasonable workloads and open communication, Cameroon adapted hers to local realities. “Social dialogue and decent work, factors of peace, national cohesion and economic development of the company,” was therefore retained and commemorative activities within public and private organisations and the general march-pasts across the country centred on that. Even speeches during merrymaking that followed thereafter harped on what will be done for workers to feel good. Management got the grievances of workers, assured and promised them of what could be done. As different administrations go through what they received as expectations from the staff delegates that took to the rostrum, employees are evidently telling stories of how the day fared as they obviously look forward to the materialisation of better working conditions as they were promised. This is normal as every worker aspires for better working conditions and improved remuneration given the rising cost of living, coupled with the fact that in Cameroon, like in every developing economy, a single worker almost always has many mouths to feed. The hopes are even rekindled by government’s message to employers and employees delivered by the Minister of Labour and Social Security prior to the celebrations focused on promoting decent work. Minister Grégoire Owona underlined that, “As part of the ongoing efforts to improve working conditions in Cameroon, our ultimate goal remains the promotion of social dialogue and decent work, as advocated by the Head of State, His Excellency Paul Biya.” He said implementing social dialogue and decent work is essential for fostering peace, national cohesion and economic growth of companies. It serves as a reminder that these words are not merely a slogan or a silver bullet; rather, goals set for preserving peace and achieving development.” This is what government holds for the country’s labour force as she constantly advocates dedicated consultation settings for social dialogue that guarantees business productivity and social harmony. No one doubts the fact that they are ingredients of prosperity for the nation. Those who are lucky to have the scarce jobs as well as others still yearning for them are certainly waiting to see how the much-trumpeted decency in work, which embodies human dignity, equity, security and fair income, fully materializes. This should be the case where it is still farfetched, given that different organisations treat their workers differently. However, all workers must understand that the employer- employee rapport is a partnership which is a give-and-take one and functions normally when there is mutual respect of its terms, written or not. Rights go with responsibilities and workers must show proof of accountability in whatever they do. Finding employment in the country is not the easiest of things. Not even for the most qualified. Some say it’s a matter of luck. For, jobseekers far more outweigh available places and many aspirants use every available means; the good, the bad and even the ugly, to secure a job. It is almost a jungle-like situation where only the “strongest” survives. Logically so as statistics from the National Institute of Statistics and other organisations which have carried out surveys on the country’s employment situation hold that Cameroon’s unemployment rate as at 2025 was in the neighbourhood of 3.6 per cent. This is even further exacerbated by the under-employment levels where many; for want of qualified jobs, find themselves ...