Cameroon has an open legal and policy environment for refugees, guided by the Refugee Act No. 2005/2006. Refugees have the same access to work, education, housing, banking services and social assistance as Cameroonian citizens. However, refugees do not need a work permit to engage in formal employment, but most employers require a government-issued biometric refugee card, and less than 5% of refugees have received these. According to the UNHCR, only 4.3% of refugees in Cameroon are formally employed. The high national unemployment rate, employer requirements for biometric IDs, and a lack of awareness of refugees’ rights contribute to low employment among refugees. Refugees are also limited in their ability to engage in formal business activities, as the refugee card is not among the required documents for business registration.
Pathways to employment: Cameroon Report
Buhendwa Iragi and Fardosa Salah
