A majority of institutions facilitating acquisition of employment are operating against the law.

Getting a job is the dream of many young Cameroonians. Due to the worrisome unemployment situation in the country, many private temporary job-placement companies have come in to help give jobs to youths.  

What has been the cause for worry is that even though these private companies may have authorisation from the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, most of them are operating against the law. In most cases, these companies only exist on paper or in briefcases. Furthermore, most of them have no fixed location or offices as demanded by law while some don’t exist at all.

In order to restore order within the sector, the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Zacharie Perevet issued a press release on Wednesday September 11, 2013 publishing the list of private temporary job-placement companies that are authorised to operate in the country. According to the release, some owners of private temporary job-placement companies and private offices for job attributions are operating in violation of the law. The release states that such attitude hampers efforts by government to revamp the sector. The release further informs stakeholders of the sector that only companies with valid authorisation are expected to operate.

Honoré Essono, Bureau Chief of Job Contracts for Expatriates, in the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, said the problem with the companies is that most of them do not send their monthly activities report to the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training. He explained that the companies are expected to give their reports to the different regional delegations for transmission to the central competent services of the ministry.

“The reports will enable the ministry know the number of youths that have been given jobs so that we can also give our own report on the number of Cameroonians who gained employment,” he said.  He further said that the authorisation has a duration of two years but there are companies that are still operating even though their authorisations have since expired. 

Honoré Essono also said all companies that do not respect the law are liable to sanctions. The sanctions, he said, begin with a warning from the minister and unto the suspension of authorisation. Some companies have already been suspended and will only have the ban lifted when they come to the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training with reports of their activities.