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Cameroon

World bank, 2021
Poverty headcount ratio at $3.65 a day (2017 PPP) (% of population)
47%
Population below international poverty line

Equivalent to 43,969 Central African francs per worker per month.
WageIndicator Foundation, 2024

67
per month
National minimum wage

Equivalent to 131,224 Central African francs per worker per month.
Global Living Wage Coalition, 2024

200
per month
Rural living wage

Equivalent to 189,860 Central African francs per worker per month.
Global Living Wage Coalition, 2024

 

289
per month
Urban living wage

Equivalent to 190,356 Central African francs per worker per month.
Global Living Wage Coalition, 2024

290
per month
Rural living income
World bank, 2022
Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
42%
Agricultural workforce
World bank, 2022
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP)
17%
Agriculture share of GDP

ITUC Global Rights Index, 2024
Systematic violation of rights.

4
high
Risk to workers' rights

Context

Cameroon has a population of almost 28 million people.[1] The country is relatively equally populated in its urban and rural regions, which account for 59%[2] and 41%[3] of the population respectively. Agriculture is a significant source of employment for the country as it assumes 42% of the workforce.[4] The sector represents 17% of the national GDP.[5]

Cameroon’s agricultural sector is key for its economy as it employs almost half of the national workforce. Smallholder farmers dominate the sector and there are roughly 2 million small family farms in the country. Nevertheless, these farms are highly dependent on manual labor with minimal or even no other inputs whatsoever. In general, rural areas face significant issues of poverty, especially in the northern regions of the country. However, although Cameroon is fully capable of meeting its food demand and address its rural development issues, the poor quality of commercial farming has the country depended on food imports instead.[6]

The top produced commodities in Cameroon are cassava, plantains, maize, palm oil fruit and taro (cocoyam).[7] Cameroon’s top export commodities in terms of quantity are cocoa beans, bananas, cotton lint, natural rubber and green coffee.[8]

Footnotes
  1. ^ World Bank (2022). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=CM
  2. ^ World Bank (2022). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=CM
  3. ^ World Bank (2022). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS?locations=CM
  4. ^ World Bank (2021). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=CM
  5. ^ World Bank (2022). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS?locations=CM
  6. ^ [6] IFAD. Country Profiles: Cameroon. https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/country/id/cameroon
  7. ^ FAOSTAT (2022). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country
  8. ^ FAOSTAT (2022). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country_exports

Wages

Minimum wage

The minimum wage in Cameroon is set by law at 43,969 Central African francs (67 EUR) per month, value established in 2014[1] However, employers tend to bargain with workers for lower salaries, taking advantage of the country’s high unemployment rate. Therefore, salaries below the minimum wage are a common issue in Cameroon. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in sectors where unskilled labour is needed, such as the public works and the domestic sector. In addition, the government’s health and safety regulations do not include the informal sector, while health and medical coverage for employees, which is mandatory by law, is not enforced.[2]

 

The Global Living Wage Coalition has developed 2 Living Wage reference value studies for rural and urban Cameroon based on the Anker methodology, and 1 Living Income Reference Value study for rural Cameroon.

Footnotes
  1. ^ Wage Indicator Foundation (2024). Minimum Wage-Cameroon. https://wageindicator.org/salary/minimum-wage/cameroon
  2. ^ U.S. Department of State. 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Cameroon. https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/cameroon/

Living wage

The Anker Living Wage Reference Value in rural Cameroon is estimated at 131,224 Central African francs (200 EUR) per month. .[1] In urban areas of Cameroon, the Anker Living Wage Reference Value is estimated at 189,860 Central African francs (289 EUR) per month[2]. These are the wages required for workers in rural and urban areas of Cameroon respectively to afford a basic but decent standard of living.

Footnotes
  1. ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2024). Anker Living Wage Reference Value: Rural Cameroon. https://www.globallivingwage.org/reference-value/living-wage-reference-value-rural-cameroon/
  2. ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2024). Anker Living Wage Reference Value: Urban Cameroon. https://www.globallivingwage.org/reference-value/living-wage-reference-value-for-urban-cameroon/

Living income

A Living Income Reference Value was estimated at 190,356 Central African francs (290 EUR). This value represents the amount a typical family in rural Cameroon needs to cover the monthly cost of a basic but decent standard of living.[1]

Footnotes
  1. ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2024). Anker Living Income Reference Value: Rural Cameroon.. https://globallivingwage.org/living-income-reference-value-rural-cameroon/

What's happening

resource

Living Wage Reference Value, Urban Cameroon

Living wage estimate for workers to be able to afford a basic but decent living standard in urban areas of Cameroon.

resource

Living Wage Reference Value, Rural Cameroon

Living wage estimate for workers to be able to afford a basic but decent living standard in a typical rural area of Cameroon.

resource

Living Income Reference Value, Rural Cameroon

Living income estimate for a typical family in rural Cameroon to cover the monthly cost of a basic but decent standard of living.

initiative

Workers’ Health and Labour Income in Cameroon

This report by IZA explores the relationship between health and income by studying self-employed and wage-earning workers in Cameroon.

initiative

Land Tenure Security in Cameroon

This report by AERC deals with the tenure insecurity issues Cameroonian farmers face and its effects on agricultural productivity.

initiative

Cameroon’s Cocoa Value Chain Analysis

An EU study which presents an overview of Cameroon’s cocoa value chain, aiming to create useful knowledge for policy discussion and business operations.

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