Trade unions in Cameroon


There are six recognized trade union confederations in Cameroon as of 2021. The main federation Confederation of Cameroon Trade Union has undergone many organizational splits and attempts by the government to retain its influence.

Repression

The ITUC ranked Cameroon a score of 4 on the Global Rights Index in 2024, due to its frequent repression of trade union leaders including arrests, union busting and restrictions on strikes.
Under the 1992 Labour Code, trade unions must be registered by the government, public sector teacher unions in particular have been rejected. Agriculture and informal workers – a majority of Cameroon workforce are excluded from joining or forming trade unions. Trade unions cannot mix both public and private sector workers. The right to strike

History

In 1961, a unified Cameroon was established from French Cameroon and Southern Cameroons. Throughout the 1960s over 100 trade unions were established. The first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo appealed for trade union unity.
4 trade union confederations,,, and merged into Trade Union Federation of Cameroon.
English speaking trade unions in Western Cameroon formed West Cameroon Trades Union Congress.
Separately, two Christian federations and merged in 1962 to form. USCC maintained its independence until it was merged into the UNTC at the urging of president Ahidjo in a 1969 congress of the ruling UNC party.
By 1971-1972, the remaining trade union confederations were consolidated into a single confederation which went through the following rebranded organizations:
Prior to 1991, workers could only join trade unions that were affiliated to OSTC, which was closely linked to the national ruling party RDPC. Some leaders of OSTC even hosted "anti-democracy" rallies in 1990 during the liberalization period. In 1992, the OSTC restructured into the present day CSTC which promoted union democracy, e.g. the right of its members to affiliate with a political party of their choosing. The RDPC party continued to seek influence in CSTC. In 1994, the RDPC government officials unilaterally ousted and later arrested union democracy advocate and general secretary Louis Sambes. With external pressure from the global ICFTU and the ILO, Sambes was released and reinstated in 1995.
Following the government's failed attempt to oust Sambe and control CSTC, the RDPC set up a competing management union in 1995 called Union of Free Trade Unions of Cameroon.
was founded in 2000 and represents 60,000 civil servants or one third of the Cameroon public sector workforce.