Working at 16 in Cameroon: What the Law Says

In Cameroon, thousands of young people aged 14-17 are already working — in markets, as delivery runners, as helpers in family businesses. But what does the law actually say? The Cameroonian Labor Code (Law No. 92/007 of August 14, 1992) strictly regulates youth employment to protect their health, safety, and education.

This article clearly explains what is allowed, what is prohibited, and how a 16-year-old can work legally while staying protected. If you're a parent or a young worker, this information is essential.

Article 86 of the Cameroonian Labor Code sets the following rules:

• 14 years: minimum age for light work that does not harm the child's health, development, or schooling.
• 16 years: age at which a minor can be employed in most sectors, with written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
• 18 years: full working capacity — no minority-related restrictions.

Order No. 17 of May 27, 1969 specifies the list of dangerous work prohibited for those under 18. Penalties for employers who violate these rules range from 50,000 to 500,000 FCFA in fines, with possible imprisonment for repeat offenders.

Cameroon has also ratified ILO Convention No. 138 on minimum age for employment and Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labor.

The law clearly distinguishes allowed work from prohibited work:

Allowed work (14-15 years — light work):

• Running errands in the neighborhood
• Helping in the family business (selling, organizing, inventory)
• Light domestic chores
• Distributing flyers or documents

Allowed work (16-17 years — supervised employment):

• Delivery on foot or by bicycle (no motorcycle)
• General help: unpacking, organizing, light cleaning
• Babysitting under supervision
• Event assistance (setup, service)
• Light agricultural work

Strictly prohibited before 18:

• Night work (between 10pm and 6am)
• Working at heights, operating dangerous machinery
• Carrying heavy loads (over 15 kg for boys, 10 kg for girls)
• Work in mines, quarries, chemical plants
• Any work harmful to physical or moral health

For a 16-17 year old to work legally in Cameroon, several conditions must be met:

• Written consent: a parent or legal guardian must give written permission. This document must mention the employer's name, nature of work, and schedule.
• Medical examination: a medical fitness certificate is theoretically required. In practice, this is rarely enforced in the informal sector, but it protects the young worker.
• Limited hours: a minor cannot work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. Overtime is prohibited.
• Mandatory rest: at least 12 consecutive hours of rest between workdays, plus one full weekly rest day.

In practice, in Cameroon's informal economy, these formalities are often ignored. That's why platforms like SangoServices integrate automatic protections: age verification, age-appropriate gigs, and work hours tracking.

At SangoServices, we take young worker protection seriously:

• Age verification: every user must declare their date of birth. Minors under 16 cannot register as workers.
• Filtered categories: 16-17 year olds only have access to low-risk categories — errands, light delivery, general help.
• Protected hours: no night gigs are offered to minors.
• ERS (Employer Reliability Score): employers are rated. A poorly rated employer cannot hire young workers.
• Secure payment: earnings are paid directly to the worker's Mobile Money account, eliminating non-payment risk.

Our goal is to enable young Cameroonians to earn honest income while staying within the legal framework and in complete safety.

If you're a parent of a 16-17 year old who wants to work, here are our recommendations:

• Guide the first job: help your child choose gigs suited to their age and abilities. Errands and walking delivery are excellent first jobs.
• Set clear limits: maximum 4 hours per day during school term, 6 hours during holidays. Education must remain the priority.
• Check the employer: on SangoServices, review the employer's profile and ratings before accepting a gig.
• Open a Mobile Money account: MTN MoMo or Orange Money let your child receive payments securely.

If you're a young worker: never accept a job that puts you in danger, prevents you from going to school, or requires you to work at night. Your rights are protected by law.

Sign up on SangoServices to find age-appropriate, safe, and well-paid gigs.