Jira & Confluence 
Bitrix24 Labour Code s. 37 · Order 016/1993 · FCFA
Severance pay in Cameroon — band by band, with pay in lieu of notice and a ready claim letter
Short answer. Your average pay over the last twelve months, your start date and your end date: you see the allowance the official scale gives, year by year. Right to the allowance: employer ends an open-ended contract, at least 2 years' continuous service, no gross misconduct (Labour Code s. 37; Order 016/1993 s. 1).
- Ask your employer for a detailed final statement — 2 weeks beforetype the date
- Compare the statement with this calculation and hand in the claim letter — 1 week aftertype the date
Check your own case.
Practical reminders, not legal deadlines. Notice runs from the written notification (Labour Code s. 34).
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Calculator · scale of Order 016/1993
Your severance allowance in FCFA — band by band
Your average pay over the last 12 months, your start and end dates and any notice not worked. You see your service in completed months, the multiplier, the allowance and pay in lieu of notice — and an Excel file with the 12 months of pay and the claim letter.
- Ask your employer for a detailed final statement and compare it line by line with this calculation.
- Hand in the claim letter against a signed receipt and keep your copy.
- If you disagree, go to the labour inspector for your area with your payslips and the dismissal letter.
Arithmetic of Order No. 016/MTPS/SG/CJ of 26 May 1993: for each year, 20% (years 1–5), 25% (6–10), 30% (11–15), 35% (16–20), 40% (from year 21) of average monthly pay over the last 12 months; completed months only; nothing under 2 years of continuous service or for gross misconduct (Labour Code s. 37). Notice not worked: pay × months (s. 36). Paid leave, tax and CNPS not counted. Not legal advice.
Lida, Layers template assistant
Tell me your average pay and your dates — I'll work out your allowance band by band.
The claim letter is ready at the bottom of the page.
Deadlines
The rules, with the source
| What | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Right to the allowance | Employer ends an open-ended contract, at least 2 years' continuous service, no gross misconduct | Labour Code s. 37; Order 016/1993 s. 1 |
| Base | Average monthly pay of the last 12 months, without expense allowances or benefits in kind | Order 016/1993 ss. 2 a and 3 |
| Scale | Per year: 20% (years 1–5), 25% (6–10), 30% (11–15), 35% (16–20), 40% (from year 21) | Order 016/1993 s. 2 b |
| Part-years | Counted in completed months | Order 016/1993 s. 2 c |
| Notice | Given in writing with the reason; one paid free day a week to look for work | Labour Code ss. 34 and 35 |
| Notice not given | Compensation equal to pay and benefits for the notice not worked | Labour Code s. 36 |
| Unfair dismissal | Damages set by the court: at least 3 months' pay, at most 1 month per year of service | Labour Code s. 39 |
The scale applies unless a collective agreement, your contract or a special text gives more: the calculator has a field for extra points. The length of notice by service and grade is set by another ministerial order — check it in your collective agreement.
Step by step
What to do, in order
1
Gather your payslips
The last 12 payslips: the average is on gross pay including bonuses, without expense allowances or benefits in kind.
2
Calculate
Average pay, start date, end date and any notice not worked — the calculation goes band by band.
3
Claim
The claim letter is ready: hand it in against a signed receipt and keep your copy.
Questions
How is severance pay calculated in Cameroon?
For each year of service, a percentage of your average monthly pay over the last 12 months: 20% for years 1 to 5, 25% for years 6 to 10, 30% for 11 to 15, 35% for 16 to 20 and 40% from year 21 (Order No. 016/MTPS/SG/CJ of 26 May 1993). Part-years count in completed months only.
Can I see an example?
Jean-Paul, 8 years and 9 months of service, average pay 320,000 FCFA: 5 × 20% + 3.75 × 25% = 1.9375 months' pay, i.e. 620,000 FCFA. If his one-month notice is not worked, add 320,000 FCFA in lieu of notice.
Do I get it with less than 2 years?
No: you need at least two years' continuous service with the same company (Labour Code s. 37). Notice, untaken paid leave and your last month's pay are still due.
What about gross misconduct or resignation?
Gross misconduct, as assessed by the court, removes the allowance. If you resign there is no severance allowance: section 37 covers termination by the employer.
My collective agreement gives more — what then?
The Order's scale is a minimum. If your agreement has higher rates, enter the extra points in the calculator (for example 5 for 25% instead of 20%) or follow the agreement.
Is it free? Do I need to sign up?
It’s free and you don’t need an account: fill it in, calculate and download. With a free account you can save a copy to your Layers and come back to it later.
Official sources
Other documents
Keep the papers in one place
Letters, receipts and notices in one folder you can share with family or a lawyer. The templates and the editor are free; Layers is free for up to 20 people.
An estimate and a template, not legal advice. Your collective agreement and the court may set other amounts.