The Intersyndicale Nationale de l'Administration Publique (Inap) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has called on the government to convene a parity commission to validate a fair and equitable salary policy. Inap President Fidèle Kiyangi stated that the government has 72 hours to act, emphasizing the need for a just salary policy. This move comes after two years of inaction on the commission. Kiyangi warned that if the government fails to act, they will use the Constitution and relevant laws.
Several civil servants have criticized Inap's approach, labeling it as blackmail. They argue that the syndicalists are using this tactic to secure funds from the public treasury. The civil servants are demanding that elections be held to choose new syndicalists, as the mandates of many current syndicalists have expired. They also point out that some syndicalists have been promoted to director positions despite there being no vacancies in their respective ministries.
The civil servants express concern that the current syndicalists prioritize their interests over the welfare of public service employees. This has led to an overabundance of directors in many ministries. The employees are now seeking to support traditional and more experienced unions, having learned from past experiences with "house" unions that failed to secure benefits for them.
The past experiences with "house" unions have left a sour taste for public service employees. These self-proclaimed syndicalists, often without proper training, were unable to negotiate effectively with the government. Instead, they secured service missions that allowed them to collect substantial fees and obtain promotions.
In principle, once an employee becomes a cadre, they should no longer assume syndicalist responsibilities. However, the current syndicalists have made efforts to mislead the government and avoid organizing elections. The unpleasant experience has led employees to lose trust in their current representatives and seek more competent and experienced syndicalists.
As a result, public service employees are now calling for elections to be held as soon as possible to choose their representatives. They express a desire to rely on professional and seasoned syndicalists who understand negotiation techniques. Those who have disappointed them in the past will likely be rejected.
The situation highlights a critical need for reform within the public administration's union representation. The employees' demands for fair representation and a just salary policy underscore the complexities of labor relations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The government's response to Inap's ultimatum and the upcoming elections will be crucial in determining the future of public service employee relations.
Key points
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo's public administration union is demanding that the government validate a fair and equitable salary policy within 72 hours.
- Public service employees are calling for elections to choose new syndicalists, citing expired mandates and concerns over the current representatives' priorities.
- The employees are seeking to support traditional and more experienced unions, having learned from past experiences with "house" unions that failed to secure benefits for them.
