SangoServicesGlossary of Informal Work in Cameroon
All key terms to understand the Cameroonian informal job market, Mobile Money payments, and the SangoServices platform.
Economy
- Informal work
- Informal work refers to any economic activity that is not registered with the state and falls outside tax and social regulations. In Cameroon, the informal sector accounts for approximately 90% of total employment and is the primary livelihood for millions of people.
- Tontine
- A tontine is a traditional communal savings system widely practiced in Cameroon. A group of people regularly contributes a fixed amount, and each member receives the entire pot in turn. It is an essential financial tool for informal workers who lack access to bank credit, enabling them to fund investments, emergencies, or professional projects.
- Platform economy
- The platform economy (or gig economy) refers to an economic model where digital platforms connect independent service providers with clients. SangoServices is a marketplace platform adapted to the Cameroonian context, with Mobile Money payment and worker verification.
- Cameroon informal sector
- The informal sector in Cameroon employs approximately 90% of the working population and contributes significantly to national GDP. It encompasses small businesses, crafts, domestic services, informal transport, and subsistence farming. SangoServices aims to structure part of this sector by providing a reliable and transparent marketplace platform.
Work
- Day labor
- Day labor refers to temporary employment paid by the day, without a long-term contract. In Cameroon, it is the most common form of employment in the informal sector. SangoServices connects employers with day laborers within a 5 km radius, with durations ranging from 1 hour to a full day.
Platform
- Pre-funding
- Pre-funding on SangoServices is a security mechanism for jobs worth 10,000 FCFA or more. The employer deposits the agreed amount before work begins, guaranteeing the worker will be paid once the task is completed and confirmed. This system protects both parties and builds trust.
- Reliability score (ERS)
- The reliability score (ERS — Employer Reliability Score) is a 0-100 indicator that evaluates a user's reliability on SangoServices. It considers mission history, payment punctuality, task confirmations, and any disputes. A high score grants benefits like longer confirmation windows.
- Search radius
- On SangoServices, job listings are shown to workers located within a 5 km radius of the job location. This hyperlocal system ensures workers find jobs close to home, reducing transport costs and commute time.
- Completion fee
- Posting jobs on SangoServices is free. A 15% completion fee is added on top of the worker's pay when the job is confirmed complete. The employer pays workerPay + 15%. The first 2 completed jobs are free (no completion fee). The platform is entirely free for workers.
- Verification
- Verification on SangoServices is a 3-tier process (Tier 0, 1, 2) that confirms a worker's identity and reliability. Tier 0 is basic registration, Tier 1 is phone/OTP verification, and Tier 2 is full identity verification. Employers can filter workers by verification level.
- Task / Mission
- A mission on SangoServices is a one-time job posted by an employer. Each mission has a category (cleaning, repair, delivery, etc.), a duration (1h, 2-3h, half-day, full day), a geolocated venue, and an amount in FCFA. The mission lifecycle follows 15 states, from posting to closure.
Payment
- Mobile Money
- Mobile Money is a payment and money transfer service via mobile phone. In Cameroon, the main operators are MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) and Orange Money. This service allows sending money, paying bills, and receiving payments without a bank account. SangoServices uses Mobile Money to secure payments between employers and workers.
- FCFA (CFA Franc)
- The CFA Franc (FCFA) is the currency used in 14 African countries, including Cameroon. Its exchange rate is fixed to the euro: 1 EUR = 655.957 FCFA. It is the currency used on SangoServices for all pricing and payments. A typical daily wage in Cameroon's informal economy ranges from 3,000 to 15,000 FCFA.