Table of Contents
Congo Republic
HIGH-LEVEL COUNTRY MAPPING
INSTITUTIONS AND STAKEHOLDER DATABASE – Congo Republic
REC MEMBERSHIP – ECCAS
Governance Indicators
Congo Republic Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG)
Overall Governance score: 39.7 (/100) Rank: 45th (out of 54 countries)
Population Size and Size of the Informal Economy
The current population of Congo is 6,481,018 as of 27 June 2025, based on Worldometer’s elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
Congo’s 2025 population is estimated at 6,484,437 people at mid-year.
The informal economy in Congo-Brazzaville represents a substantial portion of both economic activity and employment.
Estimates suggest that between 81.5% and 97.5% of economic activity takes place in the informal economy.
One report indicates that approximately 88.6% of the total workforce is employed in the informal sector.
This includes:
- 59.7% agricultural activities
- 28.9% non-agricultural activities
Nature of the Legal System and ILO Status
The legal system of the Republic of the Congo is primarily a civil law system influenced by French law, reflecting its historical status as a former French colony.
The legal framework also incorporates elements of customary law, particularly in matters relating to:
- personal status
- family law
- land and property rights within traditional communities
The Republic of the Congo has been a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1960.
Workers’ Rights in the Human Rights System, National Labour Law and Social Protection
Workers’ rights in the Republic of the Congo are protected through a combination of:
- constitutional guarantees
- national labour legislation
- international labour standards ratified by the country
These frameworks address fundamental labour rights including:
- freedom of association
- collective bargaining
- workplace protections
- social security provisions
However, as in many countries with large informal economies, the effective extension of these protections to workers operating in the informal sector remains a significant policy challenge.
Existing Laws, Regulatory, Policy or Institutional Initiatives Protecting Workers in the Informal Economy
See sector-specific regulation below.
PART 2 – SECTOR SPECIFIC REGULATION
Domestic Work Sector
Street Vendors
Waste Reclaiming
- Act No. 33-2023 of 17 November 2023 on Sustainable Environmental Management in the Republic of the Congo
- Persons who produce, store, export, process, collect, transport, or engage in waste brokerage or trading operations must provide the environmental authorities, no later than 20 June and 20 December of each year, with information concerning the origin, nature, characteristics, quantities, intended use and methods of processing and disposal of waste they produce, transfer to third parties or take charge of.
- The reduction, recycling and reuse of waste must be carried out in accordance with the applicable regulations. (Art. 58)
- Activities relating to the management of hazardous waste — including collection, transport, storage, treatment, brokerage and trading — require authorisation from the Minister responsible for the environment, following technical advice from authorised services.
- A Decree of the Council of Ministers shall determine the conditions under which waste is collected, sorted, transported, stored, treated and disposed of. (Art. 59)
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Home Working
Gig Work and the Platform Economy
Farm Work
Mining and Artisanal Mining
Taxi and Transport Sector
- Decree No. 2024-324 of 9 July 2024
- Issued by the Prime Minister regulating the activity of public passenger transport by motorbike, thereby formally recognising this activity.
- Municipal Orders No. 773 and 774 of 30 September 2024
- Define the conditions under which motorbike transport may operate in the suburbs of Brazzaville.
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Cross-Border Informal Trade
(Content to be added.)