Kinshasa, 16 September 2024 – Road hauliers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have launched a major strike to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the situation of persistent barriers along National Road Number One. This action was motivated by the failure to respect agreements reached between the government, workers and employers, in particular concerning the lifting of barriers on the RN1 between Muanda and Kamwesha, as well as in the provinces of Katanga, in Kolwezi and Lubumbashi.
The Secretary General of the Associations of Drivers, Mechanics and Conveyors of Heavy Goods Trucks of Congo, Marcel Blaise Sese, highlighted the frustration of drivers with the lack of implementation of commitments made by the authorities. The strike also aims to denounce the ban on driving and unloading during the day in Kinshasa, as well as to demand the implementation of the resolutions of the tripartite workshop of the road transport sector held in November 2023.
The workers are protesting against the non-compliance with financial commitments, particularly with regard to wage increases. The drivers are expecting a gradual wage increase that has not been respected. This situation is the result, according to the protesters, of the non-compliance with the agreements made in November 2023, leading to stagnation in wages and unfavorable working conditions.
The inter-union of road hauliers is calling for solidarity among drivers to strengthen the strike and obtain the implementation of the measures decided during the tripartite workshop at the Caritas center. The aim of this mobilization is to remind the government of the importance of respecting the commitments made to improve the working conditions of drivers and ensure the proper functioning of the road transport sector in the DRC.
In conclusion, the road hauliers’ strike in the DRC highlights the ongoing challenges faced by workers in the sector. Non-compliance with agreements, stagnant wages and precarious working conditions require urgent action by the authorities to ensure that workers’ rights are respected and that the road haulage sector in the country functions properly.