The delegates have had their capacities reinforced regarding the promotion of social dialogue at their work place.
Promoting social dialogue is an objective in the Decent Work Agenda as elaborated by the International Labour Organisation, and adopted by employers’ and employees’ organisations worldwide. The phenomenon is not new but given the fluctuating socio-economic situation in the country, it can be argued that its functioning leaves room for improvement. The basis of any effective social dialogue is solid, reliable information for policy discussions and decision making. It is on this basis that the National Assembly sent some 23 of its staff delegates to sharpen their skills at the Cradat international college, which is specialised in training labour officials. According to a source close to the Human Resources and Judiciary Affairs Department of the National Assembly, the decision to send the delegates for training was for them to effectively defend the rights of the staff. It was also disclosed that it is in line with the National Assembly’s quest to promote social dialogue through impacting appropriate training to its staff delegates. Hierarchy believes that when delegates are fully aware of their rights and obligations, there is little chance of misinterpretation of what is expected of them.
During the training, the delegates were drilled on the differences between the role of staff representatives and a syndicate. Emphasis was laid on the promotion of social dialogue in an enterprise – the case of the National Assembly. At the end of the four-day course, trainees acknowledged that they had been well equipped with knowledge that will help them to adequately defend the rights of their peers. They also said they are not rivals with the administration but rather they are the bridge that will transmit the problems of staff to the administration so solutions can be obtained in record time. While receiving attestations, the delegates expressed their wish to get further training while promising to uphold social dialogue at all times in the National Assembly of Cameroon. They unanimously thanked the Rt. Hon. Speaker for the wonderful opportunity he offered them.
Claudette CHIN
