Despite several efforts and considerable discussions made to introduce and effect modernization of the social security in Cameroon, this issue remains one of the few items in the current regime that has not been attended to.
Nevertheless, Cameroonians have experienced some positive change recently with the improvement of the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS) services. Unlike the previous system of remitting retirement pensions, the payments can now be made at various offices in Cameroon and further, this can be done monthly and also via bank deposits for those who already have bank accounts. This is a positive move in contrast to the quarterly payments which thousands of people had to queue for at the main CNPS office in Yaound矇.
However, these arrangements might not be as helpful to many people because of a few hitches here and there. Most retirees who are subject to receiving pensions are unable to do so for the reasons that they cannot be able to provide all the relevant documentation required of them or could be that their employers never submitted their share of money to the relevant CNPS offices while they were in employment.
For many Cameroonians, retirement is a social security mystery. Despite social security being the main legal body that should guarantee protection to everyone against social risks such as old age, diseases and disability, it remains a working progress whose fruits are yet to be experienced by Cameroonians. A few percentage of the country's population remain as the beneficiaries of ones enjoying it according to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
A system under working progress.
As the government unveiled its financial, economic, social and cultural plans in parliament two years ago, the Prime Minister Yang Philemon acknowledged that the government was working towards maintaining the country's social peace by ensuring that everyone would benefit from social security measures which were going to be put in place. A month later, President Paul Biya confirmed the same by informing the public that the social security issue was being looked at.
The unit put in place to modernize social security in Cameroon conducted the relevant studies and has submitted the report to Mr. Philemon. The report deals with the changes that will take place during the upgrading of the CNPS and it also has recommendations on how best this whole procedure can be carried out. The report further deals with reforms that should take place in terms of management to ensure that the extension put in place will also work towards benefitting the population which is not covered as well as improving the current benefits.
In the new structure of social security in Cameroon, both public and private sectors have a role to play as social security involves the solidarity of all Cameroonians whether working or not, sick or well, fully functional or disabled.
While the private organizations include insurance companies, social micro insurance enterprises, fraternal benefit societies, the public groups include the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM), the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) and the National Fund for State Employees (CNPE)
How it works is that the CNSS takes from CNPS coverage for people who have insured themselves voluntarily while the CNPE offers coverage for civil servants and those who are in dispersed communities. Like the CNPE and CNSS, the CNAM offers four cover types to the insured; old age and disability, family, maternity and work related accidents.
This reform should modernize the social security in Cameroon and also ensure the national legislation of social insurance is in harmony with the requirements of Inter-African Conference on Social Insurance (CIPRES).
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