Wage Bondage in the Cameroon Development Corporation: The Sleazy Exploitation of Female Labour at Tole, 1954 - 2002

Since the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) took over tea production at Tole in 1954, women have played a vital role in the process of cultivation by surrendering their labour at different levels of cultivation. In spite of the momentous contribution in the production process, there were signs that their role was undermined judging from the “tea spoon” wages they received. The aim of this paper therefore, is to investigate the involvement of female labour; the level of their input and the rewards that accrued to them in the plantation labour process. The study investigates labour inputs and remunerations with the intention of finding out the level of commensurateness between them. To accomplish the said objectives, this study adopts an interdisciplinary approach. Both qualitative and quantitative instruments of research are applied in order to be able to assess the input-dividends ratio of the women in the period under study. From the findings made, it is evident that the women of Tole sacrificed a lot in the production process but what they ripped in the form of wages and non-monetary benefits or concessions were insignificant.

Keywords: wage slavery, estate, exploitation, female labour, Tole.