Work conditions in Cameroon

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

The legal duration of work is 40 hours in the non-agricultural sector and 48 hours for the agricultural sector.

Retirement Age

The retirement age is 60 years.

Working Contracts

The work contract is outlined by law and collective conventions. Company agreements and individual negotiation complement it. Its form is extremely rigid. However, hiring conditions and lay-off conditions are very flexible.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

36,270 XAF per month (Source: Minimum-Wage.org).

Average Wage

5,518,700 XAF per year (Source: World Salaries)

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: Depending on the employee regime, between 9.65% and 16.2% of wages.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 4,20% of the gross wage.

Social Partners

Employer Associations

CWEN - Cameroon Women Entrepreneurs Network
GICAM - Cameroonian Employers' Association
GICAM - Interpatronal Group of Cameroon

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

Presently, the trade unions are very diverse and scattered to have any real impact in negotiations. During the last 40 years, the number of trade unions continued to increase to reach a number of 200 unions! Each trade union stands for a precise cause and none wants to break away from their positions. In addition, they suffer from a weak support from workers. Very few of them follow the initiatives of the trade unions. The trade union the most influential among these is the Union of Employers (GICAM).

Labour Unions

CSTC: Cameroon Workers Trade Union Confederation
GICAM: Inter-Employers Grouping of Cameroon

Unionisation Rate

The national unionization rate was 46.85% in 1996.

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Employment and Social Security