The dissatisfaction of the cotton growers in southern Chad is at the center of discussions between the management of CotonTchad and the employees. The two sides are discussing to find an agreement on the main requirement, namely the abolition of the company’s annual staff assessment.
as reported from Ndjamena, Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula
Cotton factories in the south of the country were shut down for three days before resuming production.
With production currently hovering around 125,000 tonnes of cotton per year – compared to 76,000 three years ago – this changed mood could worsen the company’s performance, which was taken over in 2018 by the Singaporean multinational Olam, which controls 60% of the company’s shares, 35% goes to the state and 5% to producers.
At the beginning of this dissatisfaction, the evaluation of the staff of CotonTchad. The criteria are exact: respect for schedules, motivation and the profitability of production. If the score is positive, the employees get a step and thus a salary increase.
But this year, employees condemn favoritism. Foreign workers would have received the grade better than citizens. “Only 200 of the 800 workers took another step,” said Joachim Nekarem, Moundou’s staff representative, pointing to serious problems with financial management within CotonTchad.
Fees rejected by the hierarchy. The strikers demand a new assessment. Minister of Trade, he delays. Ali Djadda Kampard indicates that three labor inspectors mediate between the management of CotonTchad and its staff. It remains to find common ground to avoid a new strike.
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