The Minister of Labor and Social Security made a visit to the Sino Mart supermarket on May 5, 2026, following a revelation of mistreatment of an employee. Curiously, no manager of the establishment was present.
Following the revelations, supported by video, of the mistreatment of Arnaud Ombe Boya, an employee at the Sino Mart supermarket, the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Grégoire Owona, was on site this Tuesday. The government member noted that the establishment does not have an elected staff representative according to regulations. However, the bosses appointed a staff representative who presented himself as the chief of chiefs acting as a liaison between employees and management.
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In this regard, the minister reminded companies that had not held elections for a staff representative in January to do so without delay. He made this reminder on May 1 during the large workers’ march on Boulevard du 20 mai. Because “Our role is to protect work and workers as a priority. We are not asking you to say things that are not true. So we will ask your bosses again because they organize the elections but they do not decide,” the minister recalled.
Faced with the absence of Sino Mart managers, the minister encouraged the staff to continue their activities. “I ask you to remain calm, to keep working.” To the appointed staff representative, he left a message for his bosses. “You will tell them that the Minister of Labor and Social Security was there accompanied by the ministry’s secretary general, the regional delegate among others. I am waiting for them at the ministry,” said the government member.
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The minister made this visit following the publication of a statement in which he expressed his “strong indignation” upon learning of the video showing an employee being abused within a company. According to the minister, “such actions, of unacceptable severity, constitute a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of the worker, notably their dignity, physical and moral integrity.” He reminded the employer that under no circumstances should they resort to practices akin to inhuman, degrading, or humiliating treatment within professional relations.
Although an investigation is underway to establish responsibility for this act, public opinion remains outraged. Residents led a protest on Monday aimed at forcing the supermarket’s closure.
