DRC: permanent commission to examine Congolese working conditions

The Minister of Employment and Labor, Akwakwa Nametu Epraim, discussed with the Inspector General of Finance, Jules Alingete, the setting up of a permanent commission to examine the working conditions of Congolese employed by expatriates.
This meeting follows a recommendation made by President Félix Tshisekedi at the last Council of Ministers.

The main aim of this initiative is to improve the situation of Congolese workers, and to sanction any infractions observed in the employment sector.

Minister Akwakwa underlined the importance of this initiative in ensuring that the rights of national employees are respected.

Jules Alingete confirmed that the Inspectorate General of Finance (IGF) would be providing substantial support for this mission.

“We will provide a significant number of inspectors to meet the government’s expectations”, he declared at the end of the meeting.

The future permanent commission will bring together various structures under the authority of the Ministry of Labor, in close collaboration with the IGF. Its mandate will be to carry out field inspections to assess the working conditions of Congolese workers employed by foreign companies.

This decision is part of a broader policy to protect the rights of national workers and promote local employment.

The Congolese government intends to combat abusive practices and ensure fair treatment of Congolese employees.

Minister Akwakwa stressed the urgency of setting up this commission.

“We will finalize the necessary mechanisms in the next few days. The authority will then take the official decision to set up the permanent commission”, he said.

The IGF’s involvement in this process testifies to the Government’s determination to strengthen controls and ensure greater transparency in the employment sector.

The finance inspectors will contribute their expertise to identify and sanction any irregularities.

This initiative has raised hopes among trade unions and workers’ rights associations. They see it as an opportunity to concretely improve the working conditions of many Congolese employed by foreign companies.

However, some observers point to the challenges facing this commission, particularly in terms of resources and coordination between the various structures involved.

The success of this initiative will largely depend on political will and allocated resources.

The actual launch of the commission is expected in the coming weeks. Its action will be closely scrutinized by all those involved in the world of work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the hope of a tangible improvement in the employment conditions of national workers.

Mitterrand MASAMUNA