The Short Answer
A foreign company can hire employees in Cameroon without registering a local company by using an Employer of Record (EOR). The EOR is a Cameroonian company that becomes the legal employer of your staff: it signs the employment contract, runs payroll, withholds income tax and pays social security to CNPS. You choose the people, set their objectives and manage their daily work. Hiring a Cameroonian national this way usually takes 1–2 weeks once the employee's documents are ready.
Why You Can't Simply Hire From Abroad
Cameroonian employment law applies to anyone working in Cameroon, whoever pays them. Every employer must:
Register with CNPS – the national social security fund – and register each employee within 8 days of their start date
Withhold IRPP – personal income tax – and the communal additional tax (CAC) every month
File monthly declarations – for tax and CNPS by the 15th of the following month
Issue written contracts – that follow the Labour Code (Law No. 92/007) and any applicable collective agreement
A company with no legal presence in Cameroon cannot register with CNPS or the tax authority as an employer. Paying someone from abroad as a "consultant" while treating them as staff exposes you to back-payment of contributions, penalties and labour claims. Our article on contractor vs employee classification in Cameroon explains the risks.
Your Three Options
Employer of Record – Fastest route. No local company needed; the EOR carries the employer obligations.
Your own subsidiary – Full control, but you need to register a company, open a bank account and set up tax and CNPS accounts before the first payslip.
Independent contractors – Suitable for genuinely independent, short-term work only.
For a detailed comparison of timelines and trade-offs, read EOR vs subsidiary in Cameroon.
How Hiring Through an EOR Works, Step by Step
Define the role – Job title, salary, start date, work location and whether the employee is Cameroonian or an expatriate.
Get a cost estimate – The EOR confirms statutory employer contributions and its fee. See the cost of employing someone in Cameroon for how the numbers are built.
Sign the service agreement – Between your company and the EOR. It sets out who does what and how you are invoiced.
Issue the employment contract – The EOR issues a fixed-term (CDD) or indefinite (CDI) contract that complies with the Labour Code.
Register the employee – With CNPS within 8 days of the start date.
Run monthly payroll – Salary, tax withholding, CNPS contributions and payslips, with one invoice to you.
Hiring Expatriates in Cameroon
If you want to place a foreign national in Cameroon, plan for immigration steps on top of the employment contract:
Work visa – Obtained before travel
Work permit – Processed through the Ministry of Labour; applications can take 2–4 months
Residence permit – Required for stays longer than 3 months
Cameroon's Cameroonisation policy expects employers to show that local staff are being trained to take on skilled roles over time. Our guide to work permits and expatriation in Cameroon covers the process in detail.
What the Employee Is Entitled To
Your Cameroonian employees receive the same statutory rights as any local employee, including:
40-hour standard working week – with overtime paid at 120% to 140% of the normal rate
Annual leave – 1.5 working days per month of service
Maternity leave – 14 weeks, fully paid
Notice and severance – On termination, according to the employee's category and length of service
The Cameroon labour law guide for foreign employers summarises these rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is using an Employer of Record legal in Cameroon?
Yes. The EOR is a registered Cameroonian employer that complies with the Labour Code, the tax code and CNPS rules. Your employees have a real employment contract with full statutory protection.
Who owns the employee's work and intellectual property?
The service agreement between you and the EOR should assign the work product and intellectual property to your company. Check that clause before signing.
Can I convert EOR employees to my own subsidiary later?
Yes. When your entity is registered, employees can be transferred to it. A good EOR will manage the transfer so that length of service and entitlements are preserved.
Do I need a Cameroonian bank account?
No. The EOR pays salaries locally in FCFA and invoices your company.
Ready to hire your first team in Cameroon? CDS HR is an ISO 9001:2015 certified Employer of Record in Cameroon. Book a free 30-minute consultation and receive an employer cost estimate within 24 hours.