Effective January 2026, the Minimum wage in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo will be 21,500 Congolese francs (approximately U$7).
“The daily rate of the Guaranteed Interprofessional Minimum Wage is set at 21,500 Congolese Francs for the ordinary unskilled worker,” the Congolese government said in a decree signed by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Employment and Labor.
“The daily rate of the Guaranteed Interprofessional Minimum Wage set in Article 2 of this decree is paid from the pay of January 2026 at 21,500 Congolese Francs; The wage tension in force is applied in terms of setting the Guaranteed Interprofessional Minimum Wage for the ordinary unskilled worker within the framework of collaboration,” the decree adds.
The minimum wage has been adjusted to 14,500 FC since December 2024 while 7 years ago it was set at 7,075 FC.
The Council of Ministers on April 18, assessed the current guaranteed minimum interprofessional wage as not being able to cover the essential needs of workers.
President Félix Tshisekedi welcomed the holding of the 37th ordinary session of the National Labour Council, whose preparatory work, which began on 8 April, was closed to open the session itself, which was held from 21 to 24 April, insisting that the said session should lead to measures capable of guaranteeing the dignity of workers, “regulating the employment of foreigners in a fair and responsible manner and consolidating the social protection system in a spirit of justice and solidarity as well as equity.”