US Department of Labor awards $3M grant to support progress on labor standards in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $3 million cooperative agreement to the International Labour Organization to improve compliance with international labor standards in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project will seek to strengthen the ability of governments, employers and workers to improve work conditions related to wages and hours and workplace safety.

Administered by the department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs, the funding will support efforts in the capital city of Kinshasa primarily, and in some pilot provinces across one or more economic sectors.

The project applies a comprehensive approach to strengthen the labor inspectorate’s ability to provide advice, guidance and enforcement of legal provisions, bolster mediation and conciliation with labor officials and increase the capacity of labor judges to resolve labor disputes properly. 

This cooperative agreement allows ILAB to continue its work to strengthen global labor standards, enforce labor commitments among trading partners and combat international child labor, forced labor and human trafficking. This project aims to:

• Enhance the capacity of the General Labour Inspectorate to identify and address labor violations.
• Help workers and worker associations acquire and use knowledge and skills to prevent or stop non-compliance in the workplace.
• Increase worker access to effective remedies to address non-compliance.
• Strengthen and sustain dialogue among government, workers and employers to improve compliance.

Learn more about the department’s international work.

The International Labour Organization, the United Nations’ only tripartite agency, brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member states to set labor standards, develop policies and devise programs promoting decent work for all women and men.