Fatshimetrie, October 17, 2024 – In a tense social context, the province of Equateur, located in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, recently set up a tripartite commission to resolve conflicts between employers and workers in private and subcontracting companies. This initiative, the result of collaboration between provincial authorities, the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC) and workers’ representatives, aims to ease tensions and find fair solutions for all parties involved.
The vice-governor of the province, Mr. Thomas Boyenge, stressed the importance of respecting the law and called on workers to demonstrate responsibility by avoiding any form of confrontation with their employers. This tripartite commission will meet for three days to study in depth the workers’ demands and propose concrete resolutions.
For his part, the provincial director of FEC/Equateur, Mr. Roussain Bikoko, pledged to defend the interests of the workers and ensure that their legitimate demands were taken into account. He assured that the demands were heard and that appropriate measures would be taken to resolve the problems raised by the national workers, particularly with regard to improving their salary conditions.
Since the start of the strike movement initiated by the national workers with expatriates, the situation has been closely monitored by the police to ensure security around the businesses concerned. Despite regular patrols by the Congolese national police, some workers have chosen not to go to their workplace, thus demonstrating their determination to assert their rights.
This tripartite commission represents a glimmer of hope in a climate of social tension and should allow for the establishment of a constructive dialogue between the various stakeholders. It embodies the commitment of provincial authorities and socio-economic actors to find lasting solutions to preserve peace and stability in the Equateur region. The resolution of these conflicts will contribute not only to the well-being of workers, but also to the harmonious development of labor relations within private and subcontracting companies in the region.
The establishment of this tripartite commission should pave the way for a peaceful resolution of differences and the building of a climate of trust conducive to healthy and constructive social dialogue. It is essential that all stakeholders demonstrate goodwill and mutual understanding to reach satisfactory and lasting compromises. Ultimately, this initiative marks an important step towards a peaceful resolution of social conflicts and demonstrates the willingness of the authorities and economic actors to promote the well-being of workers and the socio-economic development of the province of Equateur.