Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ratification: 1968)

In its direct request of 2000, the Committee took note of resolutions by the Government to apply a number of measures in the labour inspectorate to remedy: the lack of a statute for management staff; the lack of human and material resources; the lack of any policy on recruitment and training of inspection staff; the under-qualification and inexperience of labour inspectors; low salaries and a lack of special allowances. Among those measures, the Committee noted in particular: the immediate lifting of the ban on inspection visits issued by a circular of the former Minister of Labour; the adoption of special regulations for labour inspectors to govern the conditions of their recruitment and promotion with the establishment of a facility for training and further training in the course of employment; and the provision of the human, material and financial resources the labour inspection services need in order to carry out their duties. In response to the Committee’s request for information on developments in the above situation, the Government reports on two measures implemented:

1.  Provision of training (theory) for 50 or so labour inspectorate candidates for three months, following which those who pass the assessment test will go on to a practical course leading to their integration in the labour inspection service.

2.  The lifting of the ban on inspection visits by means of a ministerial order of 5 May 1997 revoking the decision of 25 August 1994 which imposed it.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the level and basic qualifications of candidates for the labour inspectorate, the content of the theory course required for selection and the length and content of the practical training after which they are integrated in the inspection service. Please include a copy of the ministerial order lifting the ban on inspection visits which was not sent with the last report.

The Committee also asks the Government to keep the Office informed on the implementation of the other measures announced to improve the organization, operation and effectiveness of the labour inspection system, particularly regarding the plan to draw up special regulations for the labour inspectorate and to provide the inspection services with the material and financial resources they need to perform their duties.