Employment of Local Workers Prioritized for Public-Private Partnership Investment Projects

The Cameroonian Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training issued a decree, effective immediately, which prioritizes the employment of locals in public-private partnership investment projects in the country.
The decree requires that employers who are seeking to hire a foreign national submit a skills transfer plan to the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training with the name of the local worker who will take over the position of the foreign national upon the expiry of their work permit.
Once submitted, the Ministry will conduct an investigation to ensure that no local workers currently have the required skills for the position, and, if none are found, issue a certificate of deficiency, allowing the employer to hire the foreign national.
Additionally, the decree mandates that certain positions can only be filled by local workers.

The situation

The Cameroonian Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training issued a decree, effective immediately, which prioritizes the employment of locals in public-private partnership investment projects in the country.

A closer look

Skills transfer plan. In order to hire a foreign national, employers must submit a skills transfer plan to the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training with the name of the local worker who will take over the position upon the expiry of the foreign national’s work permit.
Certificate of deficiency. Once submitted, the Ministry will conduct an investigation to ensure that no local workers currently have the required skills for the position, and, if none are found, issue a certificate of deficiency, allowing the employer to go ahead and hire the foreign national.
Industry list which will require certificate of deficiency. The following industries are required to submit a skills plan and obtain a certificate of deficiency in order to hire a foreign national for all positions: buildings and public works; transport; trade and services; mines; water and energy; information and communication technologies and agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing.
Localization requirement introduced. Employers will only be able to hire locals for certain positions across all industries, including: deputy general manager, human resources manager, legal affairs manager, accountant, secretary, public relations officer, cashier, and department supervisor. However, foreign nationals currently in these positions can continue to stay and work in these positions until their work and residence permits expire. Upon expiry, they will not be renewed.

Impact

Delay in employing foreign nationals. Employers and foreign nationals should be aware that it will take longer to hire foreign nationals for positions in public-private partnership investment projects which require the skills plan to be submitted and a certificate of deficiency to be issued.
Lower-skilled foreign worker employment more difficult. Due to the restrictions on foreign nationals, lower-skilled foreign workers will find it difficult to be hired in Cameroon as these jobs will go to local workers.

Background

The restriction in the employment of foreign nationals is aimed at increasing the hiring of locals who have lost jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, a skills plan and certificate of deficiency were not needed to hire foreign nationals.

Looking ahead

Cameroon is likely to continue implementing legislation, which will help with its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on hiring local workers.

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