Work conditions in Congo

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

According to art. 105 of the Labour Code, the maximum legal weekly working duration is 40 hours.
For agricultural enterprises, the employment hours duration is calculated by year, with a maximum of 2,400 hours.
A rest day per week is mandatory, and it has to consist of at least 24 consecutive hours.

Retirement Age

Age 57 with at least 264 months of contributions for blue-collar workers; age 60 with at least 300 months of contributions for white-collar workers; and age 65 with at least 360 months of contributions for senior executives. For early pension, the age limits are 52, 55 and 60, respectively.

Working Contracts

Employment contracts can be either oral or written. An employment contract must be in written if it is concluded for a fixed term or for a specific task.

Labour Laws

Consult the Labour Code, to obtain a summary of the labour regulations that apply in Congo (in French)

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

The minimum monthly salary in the private sector was XAF 90,000 in 2019 (OLI, latest data available).

Average Wage

Salaries in the Republic of the Congo differ significantly between different jobs. According to Salaryexplorer.com, in 2021 the median salary is around XAF 474,000.

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 22.78% of covered earnings.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 4% of covered earnings.

Social Partners

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

The law of the Republic of the Congo allows workers to form and join unions without previous authorization or excessive requirements, with the exception of members of the security forces and other services considered “essential for protecting the general interest,” (i.e. armed forces, police, gendarmerie, and some personnel at ports and airports). Unions shall conduct their activities without interference, however unions are reportedly weak and subject to government influence due to corruption. The law provides for the right to bargain collectively.
The right to strike is also guaranteed, provided that workers have exhausted all lengthy and complex conciliation and non-binding arbitration procedures and given due notice. In case of strike, a minimum service in all public services has to be maintained for the general interest.
According to a report by Freedom House, union members are often not adequately protected, and the government has sometimes arrested workers and pressured union leaders.

Labour Unions

Confederation of Free Autonomous Unions of Congo (Confédération des Syndicats Libres Autonomes du Congo - COSYLAC)
Congolese Trade Union Confederation (Confédération syndicale congolaise - CSC)

Unionisation Rate

N/A

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Interior and Decentralization