Fatshimetrie, August 2, 2024 (AFP) – The unstable economic situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to worry workers, particularly due to the constant decline in purchasing power caused by the depreciation of the Congolese franc against the US dollar.
The Council of Public and Private Service Unions (COSSEP) recently expressed its concerns during an evaluation meeting, stressing that the depreciation of the Congolese Franc, going from 2300 FC to 2850 FC for 1 USD, has a direct impact on the daily lives of workers. Despite the recent regularization of salary payments, the gap between salaries and the cost of living remains yawning.
Jean Pierre KIMBUYA, spokesperson for COSSEP, highlighted the precariousness of salaries, the result of poor distribution of wealth and non-compliance with agreements concluded between the parties. This situation, marked by glaring social injustice, weighs on the careers of workers and threatens their well-being.
COSSEP called on the government to guarantee the application of the guaranteed interprofessional minimum wage (SMIG) in the private and parastatal sector, with a progressive increase. In addition, he insisted on the need to regularize the payment of end-of-career benefits for retirees, as well as respect for the basic salary for new recruits who are not paid in accordance with the standards in force.
Furthermore, COSSEP highlighted the challenges faced by workers due to persistent insecurity, particularly in the eastern regions of the country. Instability in provinces such as North Kivu, Ituri and Mai-Ndombe, as well as in Kwamouth, makes the daily lives of workers even more precarious.
The promotion and defense of workers’ rights remain at the heart of the demands of the Council of Public and Private Service Unions, which works for an improvement in working conditions and fair remuneration for all workers, whether in the public sector, health, education or the private sector.
COSSEP continues to play a crucial role in social dialogue and in the fight for a more equitable and secure working environment for all Congolese workers. Economic stability can only be achieved through close collaboration between social and political actors, in order to guarantee a better future for all.