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.

Cost of labor

Minimum wage

23,514 CFAF (USD 47)

Average wage

The average salary in Cameroon is close to 80 euros, taking into consideration the numerous unemployed people and rural inhabitants, who generally do not have salaries.

Social contributions

Social security contributions paid by employers: The employer has to pay a social security contribution of 16.2%.
Social security contributions paid by employees: The employee has to pay a social security contribution of 2.8%.

Social partners

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).

Unions

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

Unionization rate

The national unionization rate was 46.85% in 1996.

Labor regulation bodies

Ministry of Employment and Social Security