Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2024, publiée 113ème session CIT (2025)

Convention (n° 182) sur les pires formes de travail des enfants, 1999 - République démocratique du Congo (Ratification: 2001)

Article 6 of the Convention. Programmes of action. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that, within the framework of Alliance 8.7 to end forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour, a workshop to identify strategic priorities was organized in November 2022. This workshop resulted in the preparation of a road map of the priorities, providing for, inter alia, the coordination and decentralization of activities, the development of a plan of action and progress follow-up, data collection, knowledge-sharing, and strengthening of laws and national policies. In this regard, a Committee has been set up composed of experts appointed by their respective structures (the government, employers, workers, civil society and financial and technical partners).

The Committee notes that, according to the information in the road map, the evaluation of the National Plan of Action against the worst forms of child labour (PAN) 2012–20 and the development of a new PAN 2022–30 are a priority.

In addition, the Committee notes the National Sectoral Strategy against child labour in artisanal mines and on artisanal mining sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2017–25) and the Support Project for alternative welfare of children and young people involved in the cobalt supply chain (PABEA-COBALT). In this regard, it also notes that several national committees are involved in combating the worst forms of child labour, such as the National Steering Committee of the National Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Programme, the National Committee to Combat the Worst Forms of Child Labour, the Inter-ministerial Committee responsible for monitoring child labour in artisanal mines and on artisanal mining sites, the National Agency for the Prevention and Repression of Trafficking in Persons, and the Alliance 8.7 Coordination Committee. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the implementation of the road map linked to the partnership with Alliance 8.7 and any other programmes or projects aimed at eliminating child labour and its worst forms, as well as on the results achieved in this regard. It also requests the Government toprovide detailed information on the planned evaluation ofthe National Plan of Action against the worst forms of child labour (PAN) 2012–20 and on the development of the new PAN 2022–30.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes, in the Government’s report, that under the policy of free basic education, especially in areas of armed conflict, the priority actions are: (i) the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of 1,210 schools in 145 territories, under the Local Development Programme; (ii) the determination of school fees by ministerial order; (iii) the identification, activation and payment of all stakeholders in public schools to prevent the parents of students at these schools from having to pay; and (iv) the establishment of a monitoring system for the effective application of free education across the country.

However, the Committee notes the information on the website of the Ministry of Education and New Citizenship that, in October 2024, the Project for an Equitable and Stronger Education System 2019–23, attached to the Sectoral Strategy for Education and Training 2016–25, presented the results of the study on the social impact of the reforms supporting the policy of free education. The study noted an alarming level of insecurity surrounding schools. Around 66 per cent of students and 87 per cent of teachers reported safety problems, particularly during their commutes to school. Almost 25.7 per cent of the students questioned reported that children they knew did not have access to education. The most vulnerable, often from disadvantaged backgrounds or families impacted armed conflict, were the most affected by this situation. While recognizing the difficult situation prevailing in the country, the Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts to improve the functioning of the education system and to facilitate access to free basic education for all Congolese children, including in areas of armed conflict. It requests the Government to provide updated statistical information on the results achieved aimed particularly at increasing the enrolment and attendance rates at primary and lower secondary school and decreasing the rates of school drop-out, disaggregated by age and gender.

Clause (d). Children at special risk. Children in street situations. In its previous comments, the Committee recalled that children working and living in the street are particularly exposed to the worst forms of child labour and requested it to provide information on the implementation of actions for the protection, rehabilitation and integration of these children.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that, within the framework of the National Strategic Development Plan 2019–23, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and National Solidarity is responsible for the protection, referral and integration of over 30,000 children in street situations. The Committee notes, however, that the Government indicates that updated statistical data will be shared at a later date. Recalling once again that children working and living in the street are particularly exposed to the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to continue its efforts to ensure the protection of these children and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results of the implementation of actions for the protection, rehabilitation and integration of children working and living in the street in the context of the strategy of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and National Solidarity and theNational Strategic Development Plan 2019–2023.

HIV/AIDS orphans (OVCs). In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Ministerial Order No. 1250/CAB/MIN/S/0016/SECMIN/2018 of 27 June 2018, establishing the structure and functioning of the National Coordinating Committee for combating AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CCM/RDC). It requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved in the context of the CCM/RDC, and the HIV/AIDS National Strategic Response Plan 2018–21.

The Committee notes the absence of information from the Government in its report. The Committee notes, however, that, according to 2023 estimations of UNAIDS, approximately 450,000 children aged between 0 and 17 are orphans because of HIV/AIDS. Recalling that HIV/AIDS orphans and OVCs are at an increased risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee once again encourages the Government to continue its efforts to prevent the engagement of HIV/AIDS orphans in the worst forms of child labour. It once again requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved in the context of the HIV/AIDS National Strategic Response Plan and the National Coordinating Committee for combating AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CCM/RDC).