PRESS RELEASE - PROJECT DRC/21/03/USA – SPNT

PILOT STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP FOR THE LABOUR INSPECTORATE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PROMOTION OF LABOUR STANDARDS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (SPNT/DRC)

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 SPNT/DRC project. This 40-month project, funded by the US Government through its 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.

Press release | 31 January 2023
The opening ceremony of this residential workshop 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 as well as personalities of reference in the area of labour inspection.

This workshop, which brought together 11 labour inspectors, including two women and two mining inspectors, aimed to train labour inspectors in the control of the construction sector (BTP) and to formulate, on a participatory basis, a pilot strategic planning in this sector. Specifically, the participants have :
  • • were trained on the work of the inspector in the field of building and public works, in particular concerning the identification of risks;
  • • were put in a professional situation to observe and practice two inspection visits of construction sites;
  • • Developed a strategic planning and action 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 present. She congratulated the participants for their presence after having been selected within the Task Force of Labour Inspection. She expressed the wish to see the inspectors participate in the sessions and work assiduously in order to capitalize on this training which will make them models of revitalization and trainers of the Labour inspection. Then, she recalled that the labour inspection system has many challenges that do not allow it to play its role fully in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Code.
However, the important thing, after having recognized the weaknesses, is to determine the root causes in order to start again on the right basis to remedy the situation. Among the corrective actions planned, she continued, she mentioned the investment in the training of Labour inspectors in a training of trainers approach by peers.

Taking the floor in his turn, Mr. Roger Nkambu Mavinga, Senior 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 of reference to verify the compliance of workplaces with the Labour Code in all areas including occupational health and safety, 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.

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 in the room and the practical sessions in the field, the workshop allowed the inspectors to develop a strategic plan for the inspection 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.


Relevant links

Workshop Launch: Press articles (written and online) Forum des AS n°6833 of Tuesday 10 January 2023, page 7 : https://www.forumdesas.net/2023/01/seize-inspecteurs-du-travail-a-l’ecole-de-planification-strategique-pilote/