Underlining his concern over the increasing reliance on foreign labor in major investment projects, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi ordered the establishment of an expanded government commission during the Council of Ministers meeting on July 11, 2025. This trend, he emphasized, sees foreign workers even in basic jobs like masonry, painting, tiling, or equipment operation, which encourages capital flight and undermines efforts to create jobs for Congolese citizens.

The newly ordered commission is tasked with proposing legislative and regulatory measures. These measures will require investors to incorporate vocational training into the design and implementation of their projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Among the planned actions are the construction and equipping of modern training centers on investment sites. Additionally, the Ministry of Vocational Training and Trades will be systematically involved at every stage of project development. A portion of the project budget will also be allocated to training tailored to the specific sector's needs.

Reforms to Bolster Local Content

This initiative follows several sectoral reforms aimed at refocusing value chains on local operators. At the 46th Council of Ministers meeting on June 6, 2025, the government approved a bill to revise the 2017 law on subcontracting in the private sector. It also endorsed a draft law establishing, for the first time, a comprehensive legal framework for local content. The objective is to better integrate Congolese workers into national value chains, particularly in strategic sectors like mining, energy, and agribusiness.

In the hydrocarbons sector, a new ministerial decree signed on July 1, 2025, now requires foreign service providers to hire and train at least two Congolese workers for each authorized subcontracting project within their field of expertise. Foreign subcontracting is permitted only when local expertise is unavailable.

For President Tshisekedi, rigorously preparing the national workforce is a prerequisite for fulfilling his commitment to creating sustainable and decent jobs for Congolese people. The ongoing mining agreement under negotiation with the United States, manganese exploitation in Kongo-Central, and the development of the Lobito Corridor are all presented as major opportunities for local employment.

Boaz Kabeya (Intern)