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Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Democratic Republic of the Congo (RATIFICATION: 1967)

Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in June 2010. In its previous comments the Committee expressed concern at the fact that the Government had not provided information on the application of the Convention since June 2002 and had emphasized that technical assistance might be useful to rectify this situation. The ILO undertook a mission to Kinshasa in May 2010 precisely for this purpose. The Government brought to the attention of the Committee the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP) of July 2006 and the Priority Action Programme (PAP) 2009–10. The PAP aims to alleviate the effects of the international financial crisis and food crisis on macroeconomic results with a view to improving the socio‑economic conditions of the population. According to World Bank estimates, economic growth fell from 6.2 per cent in 2008 to 2.8 per cent in 2009 because of the effects of the global economic and financial crisis on the country. Growth is expected to be positive in 2010. Average growth is expected to be 6.5 per cent in the medium term, with the support of public and private investment and the revival of the economic sector. The Committee invites the Government to supply up-to-date information in its next report on the manner in which the provisions of the Convention have been taken into account in the drawing up of economic programmes and the implementation of measures established in the context of the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Priority Action Programme.

Part VI. Education and vocational training. The Committee notes that, in the context of the PAP 2009–10, the Government is seeking to guarantee education for all children by 2010. The Committee again requests the Government to describe in greater detail the measures taken for the progressive development of broad systems of education, vocational training and apprenticeship, with a view to the effective preparation of children and young persons of both sexes for a useful occupation, as provided for by Article 15 of the Convention.