GENEVA (ILO News) - Her Excellency Mrs. Marie-Ange Lukiana Mufwankolo, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, yesterday deposited the instruments of ratification of seven international labour Conventions. A combined ratification of such magnitude is relatively rare in the history of the ILO. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has now joined the small club of approximately 50 countries which have ratified the ILO's eight core Conventions.
Following the conclusion of the 89 th Session of the International Labour Conference a symbolic ceremony was held yesterday morning in Room X at the Palais des Nations, in the presence of Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO). "The ILO is aware of the difficulties your country faces and your gesture is all the more praiseworthy as a result. We commit ourselves to supporting your efforts through our technical cooperation programmes", assured Juan Somavia.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo ratified some very old Conventions, such as the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), as well as the very recent Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). Three other core Conventions for which the instruments of ratification have been deposited are the following: the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105), the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), and the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).
The remaining two Conventions - No. 135 of 1973 and No. 144 of 1976 - concern workers' representatives and tripartite consultation relating to international labour standards, respectively.
"With this gesture, the President and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are demonstrating their manifest desire to improve the working conditions of the Congolese people", indicated the Congolese Minister of Labour and Social Welfare.