Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Congo (Ratification: 1960)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments initially made in 2012.

Repetition

Article 2(2)(a) of the Convention. 1. Work exacted under compulsory military service laws. For many years the Committee has been drawing the Government’s attention to the fact that section 1 of Act No. 16 of 27 August 1981 establishing compulsory military service is not in conformity with the Convention. Under this provision, national service is instituted for the purpose of enabling every citizen to participate in the defence and construction of the nation and has two components: military service and civic service. The Committee has repeatedly emphasized that work exacted from recruits as part of compulsory national service, including work related to national development, is not purely military in nature and is therefore contrary to Article 2(2)(a) of the Convention.

The Committee notes that the Government once again indicates that it is committed to repealing the abovementioned Act and this will be seen in practice in the revision of the Labour Code, which is in progress. The Committee again expresses the strong hope that when the Labour Code is revised, the necessary steps will be taken to amend or repeal the Act establishing compulsory military service so as to bring the legislation into conformity with the Convention. The Government is requested to supply information on any progress made in this respect.

2. Youth brigades and workshops. In its previous comments the Committee noted the Government’s indication that Act No. 31-80 of 16 December 1980 on guidance for youth had fallen into disuse since 1991. Under this Act, the party and mass organizations were supposed to create, over time, all the conditions for establishing youth brigades and organizing youth workshops (type of tasks performed, number of persons involved, duration and conditions of their participation, etc.). The Committee once again notes the Government’s indication that it is committed to repealing the abovementioned Act and this will be seen in practice in the revision of the Labour Code, which is in progress. The Committee expresses the strong hope that when the Labour Code is revised, the necessary steps will be taken to formally repeal Act No. 31-80 of 16 December 1980 on guidance for youth.

Article 2(2)(d). Requisitioning of persons to perform community work in instances other than emergencies. For many years the Committee has been drawing the Government’s attention to the fact that Act No. 24-60 of 11 May 1960 is not in conformity with the Convention in that it allows the requisitioning of persons to perform community work in instances other than the emergencies provided for under Article 2(2)(d) of the Convention, and provides that persons requisitioned who refuse to work are liable to imprisonment ranging from one month to one year.

The Committee again notes the Government’s indication that this Act has fallen into disuse and may be considered as repealed, in view of the fact that the Labour Code (section 4) and the Constitution (article 26), which prohibit forced labour, annul all the provisions of national law which are contrary to them. The Government explains that, in order to avoid any legal ambiguity, a text will be adopted enabling a clear distinction to be made between work of public interest and the forced labour prohibited by the Labour Code and the Constitution. The Government also indicates that the practice of mobilizing sections of the population for community work, on the basis of the provisions of section 35 of the statutes of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT), no longer exists. Tasks such as weeding and clean-up work are carried out by associations, state employees and local communities on a voluntary basis, therefore without any compulsion involved. Moreover, the voluntary nature of work for the community will be established in the revision of the Labour Code in such a way as to clearly bring the national legislation into conformity with the provisions of the Convention. The Committee notes this information and hopes that appropriate measures will be taken to clarify the situation in both law and practice, especially by the adoption of a text enabling a distinction to be made between work in the public interest and forced labour.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

The Committee expects that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.