REC MEMBERSHIP – COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, SADC, OHADA

DR Congo Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG)

Overall Governance score: 32.8 (/100) Rank: 48th (out of 54 countries)

The estimated population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is 112,728,045 as of 27 June 2025, based on Worldometer’s elaboration of the latest United Nations data.

The DRC ranks 15th in the world in terms of population size. The population is projected to reach 112,832,473 at mid-year.

The informal economy in the DRC is extensive and represents a significant portion of economic activity and employment.

It is estimated to account for:

• around 42% of GDP
• over 80% of total employment

This indicates that a substantial share of economic activity in the DRC occurs outside formally regulated economic structures.

The legal system of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a mixed legal system, combining elements of:

• civil law, strongly influenced by the Belgian legal system inherited during the colonial period
• customary law, particularly in matters relating to personal status, land and property rights within traditional communities

The DRC has been a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1960.

The DRC Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) is a framework developed by the ILO in collaboration with:

• the Government of the DRC
• employers’ organisations
• workers’ organisations

The current DWCP covers the period 2021–2024 and has been extended to 2026.

The DRC’s human rights framework provides protections for workers’ rights, including:

• freedom of association
• collective bargaining
• protection against forced labour
• protection against child labour
• the right to acceptable working conditions

The national labour law framework applies to all workers and employers operating within the territory of the DRC, regardless of their background or the nature of their employment relationship.

This protection also extends to public sector workers employed under contractual arrangements.

• Labour Code (Act No. 015/2002 of 16 October 2002)
  • Prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, language or social status. (Art. 1)

Social protection systems in the DRC continue to evolve.

Recent reforms aim to expand coverage, particularly in healthcare and maternity protection.

Relevant legal instruments include:

• Labour Code (Act No. 015/2002 of 16 October 2002)
  • Provisions relating to worker protection and maternity rights. (Arts. 112(b), 176, 178, 179)

• Act No. 16-009 of 15 July 2016 establishing the General Social Security System
  • Establishes the framework for national social security coverage. (Arts. 1, 34, 40–47, 104, 106, 123)

A free maternity scheme has also been implemented in Kinshasa as part of broader social protection reforms.

See sector-specific regulation below.

Further analysis is provided in the sector pages below:

• Domestic Work Sector
• Street Vendor
• Waste Reclaiming
• Home Working
• Gig Work and the Platform Economy
• Farm Work
• The Mining Sector and Artisanal Mining
• Taxi and Transport Sector
• Cross-Border Informal Trade