Maternity leave in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was recently the subject of a bill submitted to the National Assembly. The latter relates to the modification of article 130 of the Labor Code to grant the new mother her salary throughout the maternity period. If this proposal is adopted, women working in the private and public sectors will be treated in the same way. Indeed, the law currently provides that employed women are entitled to two-thirds of their salary, but their status in the public sector allows them to retain their benefits in the event of childbirth.
According to the president of the Network of Ladies Enarques (RDE), Gabriela Mwimba, this distinction is an unequal treatment between women. Furthermore, it goes against the spirit of the 2000 Maternity Convention which encourages states to protect the social benefits of women during pregnancy and postpartum.
According to Ms Mwimba, Congolese social security must be strengthened to allow affiliates to benefit from the necessary health care during this period. The general social security system in the DRC does not grant its affiliates health care in the event of accidents and non-occupational illnesses. On the other hand, articles 14 of law n° 15/013 of August 1, 2015 on the terms and conditions for the application of women’s rights and parity and article 130 of the Labor Code impose on the employer and from the public treasury, as the case may be, health care for the worker or servant and his family and maternity benefits.
This bill should be supported by women’s organizations to be debated and deliberated as soon as possible in the National Assembly