The Ministry of Employment and Labour said in a statement published on Jan. 7, 2025, that it will launch an inspection mission in February to oversee private placement services (SPPs) operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The mission will check whether recruitment operations and practices comply with regulations and whether employers are meeting their legal obligations toward the national workforce.

The announcement follows the completion of administrative inspections launched in October 2025 under the Labour Code and a decree governing the licensing of private placement services. As a result of the process, 176 of the 625 SPPs inspected were found to be compliant with current regulations.

The ministry said compliant SPPs either hold a valid operating licence or, for those in operation for less than two years, a temporary authorisation. It added that they are up to date with required declarations and employer contributions to the National Institute for Professional Preparation (INPP), the National Employment Office (ONEM) and the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), and have submitted the required quarterly reports.

The ministry warned that the use of unlicensed or unregulated private placement services constitutes a serious offence, punishable by administrative and criminal sanctions.

It also said that any SPP not listed officially must report to the ministry by Jan. 31, 2026, including those that consider themselves compliant but were omitted. The aim is to bring their status into compliance through an ad hoc commission. After the deadline, licences will be withdrawn, operations suspended and legal proceedings initiated.

Ronsard Luabeya