Work conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

Maximum eight hours per day, or 40 hours per week (art. 100 of the Labour Code).

Retirement Age

60 years old.

Working Contracts

Working contracts can be either verbal or in writing (art. 4 of the Labour Code of 1967).

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises. Labour Code no. 67/310 of 1967 (in French)

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

The Guaranteed Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMIG) is CDF 21,500 per day (approx. USD 9.5), effective from the January 2026 pay cycle as established by a Prime Ministerial Decree in coordination with the Ministry of Labour.

Average Wage

The average monthly wage in the Democratic Republic of Congo is about 145,000 CDF (roughly $55 USD).

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 9% for the national insurance fund (INSS)
1% to 3% for professional training (INPP)
0.2% for the national office of employment (ONEM)
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: Social and employment contributions are as follows:
- National insurance fund (Institut National de Sécurité Sociale or INSS): 3.5% for the employees' share (withheld at source by the employer) and 9% for the employer.
- National office for professional training (Institut National de Préparation Professionnelle or INPP): paid only by the employer at different rates:
    3% for state-owned companies and private companies with up to 50 employees
    2% for private companies with 51 to 300 employees
    1% for private companies with over 300 employees
- National employment Office (Office National de l’Emploi or ONEM): paid only by the employer at 0.2%.

Social Partners

Employer Associations

UNICONGO - Employers' and Interprofessional Union of Congo
FEC - Federation of Congo Businesses

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

According to art. 38 of the Constitution, freedom to form labor unions is recognized and guaranteed, in line with conditions set by the law. However, government employees and members of state security forces are not permitted to unionize. It is formally against the law for employers to retaliate against strikers; nevertheless, it has been reported that some syndicate leaders and activists can be subject to harassment.

Labour Unions

Unions Confederation of Congo (Confédération syndicale du Congo - CSC)

Unionisation Rate

There are no reliable data concerning the unionisation rate in the DRC.

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry for Employment, Labour and Social Security (Fb public page)