Collective agreements are always for the betterment of workers generally. Collective agreements are usually conditions of work incorporated into individual contracts of employment. Though every contract of employment is entered into by the individual alone in agreement with the employer, the collective agreement made by the representative of the worker is binding on the individual’s agreement.
According to section 52(1) of the Labour Code of Cameroon, a collective agreement is an agreement intended to regulate labour relations between employers and workers either of an enterprise or a group of enterprises or of one or more branches of activity. This agreement is usually between the representative of one or more Trade unions or federation of trade unions on the one hand and representatives of one or more employees or individual on the other hand.
As per section 52(2) of the Labour Code of Cameroon a collective agreement may contain provisions more favourable to workers than those of the law and regulation in force.
Section 52 (3) of the labour code provides that each collective agreement shall define its scope of application which may be national, international or local.
Collective agreements mainly deals with issues such as the substantial benefits of the workers touching on wages, increment, termination of contract etc.