A first step in building the capacity of the labour inspectorate in the Democratic Republic of Congo

News | 31 January 2023
Contact(s): nkambu@ilo.org; Chef de projet
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the pilot strategic planning workshop for the labour inspectorate of the Democratic Republic of Congo was held from January 9 to 20, 2023 as part of the project to support the promotion of labour standards in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SPNT/DRC). This 40-month project, funded by the US Department of Labour (USDOL), aims to provide technical support to the Government of the DRC and social partners to make progress on issues of compliance with labour standards.

The "Task Force of Labour Inspectors"
The opening ceremony of took place at CARITAS-Congo, in the Commune of Gombe, in the presence of representatives of the General Labour Inspectorate, labour courts and employers' and workers' organizations.

This workshop, which brought together 11 labour inspectors, including two women and two mining inspectors, aimed to train labour inspectors in the control of construction sites and to formulate, on a participatory basis, a pilot strategic plan for the action of the labour inspectorate in this sector. Specifically, the participants:
  • Were trained on the work of the inspector in the field of building and public works, in particular concerning the identification of risks;
  • Observed and practiced two inspection visits of construction sites;
  • Developed an initial strategic plan to promote compliance in the construction sector over a period of 6 months;
In her welcoming remarks, the Inspector General of Labour, Mrs. Marie-Rose Djumba Moseka, thanked the personalities and partners. She congratulated the participants for their selection as part of the “Task Force” of Labour Inspectors. She expressed the wish to see the inspectors work assiduously to capitalize on this training and later become trainers of the Labour inspectorate themselves. Then, she recalled that the labour inspection system faces challenges that do not allow it to play its role fully in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Code. She welcomed this approach of peer training as a first step to redress the situation.

Taking the floor, Mr. Roger Nkambu Mavinga, Chief Technical Advisor and Representative of the Director of the ILO/Kinshasa Country Office, highlighted that Labour inspection is an essential instrument for the promotion of decent work. Indeed, inspectors are the public authorities in charge of verifying the compliance of workplaces with the Labour law in areas such as occupational safety and health, social dialogue, working hours, social protection, the fight against illegal work, HIV-related issues, child labour, labour migration, etc. In many countries, Labour inspection services are catalysts for economic and social reforms. They are vectors and actors of social peace, a condition of productivity and competitiveness.

Field Visit on a construction site
He indicated to the inspectors that beyond the technical aspects of their job, there is the moral and ethical aspect of their profession. He insisted that inspectors are value promoters and agents of change who must question and rethink their methods and practices in the face of the important changes and challenges that await them. In addition to the theoretical training and practical sessions in the field, the workshop allowed the inspectors to develop a strategic plan for the inspectorate that will serve as an action plan for 2023 with clearly established performance indicators.

Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor under cooperative agreement number IL-35632-75-K. 100% of the total project costs are funded by federal funds, for a total of $3 million. This material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does it mention trade names, commercial products, or organizations implying endorsement by the U.S. government.