CM Minefop's Foreign Worker Registry Hits 39.3% Coverage Rate Amid Ongoing Development

• Cameroon's Minefop has identified around 11,800 foreign workers in its national registry, covering about 39.3% of estimated 30,000 foreign nationals employed in the country.
• The registry is still under development and several categories of workers may not yet appear in the database.
• Approximately 18,200 workers' administrative status remains undetermined, with significant implications for their ability to work in Cameroon.

The figures were disclosed on July 28 by Jeanine Ngo'o Eba, Director of Labor Regulation at Minefop, during an interview on state radio.

Cameroon's Minefop has made progress on its national foreign worker registry, but significant gaps remain. According to Director of Labor Regulation Jeanine Ngo'o Eba, the ministry has identified just over 11,800 foreign workers in the database, representing a coverage rate of approximately 39.3% of the estimated 30,000 foreign nationals employed in the country. This figure was disclosed on July 28 during an interview on state radio. The registry's development is ongoing, with Minefop having launched a nationwide campaign on June 22 to inspect and verify the employment status of foreign workers.

The development of the foreign worker registry is part of Cameroon's efforts to regulate its labor market. The government estimates that around 30,000 foreign nationals are employed in the country, but only a fraction of these workers have been accounted for in the database. This gap highlights the challenges faced by Minefop in building a comprehensive registry. As the registry continues to take shape, it is likely to have significant implications for foreign workers' administrative status and ability to work in Cameroon.

The ongoing development of the foreign worker registry has important implications for lawyers advising clients on employment matters in Cameroon. As the registry continues to evolve, it is essential that legal professionals stay informed about its progress and potential impact on their clients' administrative status. With approximately 18,200 workers still awaiting determination of their administrative status, the stakes are high for both employers and employees alike.

Lawyers advising clients on Cameroon employment matters should be aware of the ongoing development of the government's foreign worker registry and its implications for their clients' administrative status, which may impact their ability to work in the country.

Source: Original reporting via state radio