Trafficking Risk in Sub-Saharan African Supply Chains
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Republic of the Congo (ROC) Country Overview
Politics
Economy
Social/Human Development
Although poverty levels across the population have been declining, they are still relatively high at 46.5 percent in 2011, compared to 50.7 percent in 2004.[15] The percentage of the population living at USD 1.90 a day (2011 international prices) has declined from 50.2 in 2005 to 36.97 in 2011.[16] The Republic of Congo’s Human Development Index score for 2015 was 0.592, ranking the country 135 out of 188 countries. The country is tied with Equatorial Guinea.[17]
Education is tuition-free until age 16; however, families have to pay for books, uniforms, and health insurance, which many could not afford. Educational facilities were poorly maintained and overcrowded, especially in rural areas. Those without birth certificates, mostly indigenous children, were not allowed to attend school. Access to education was reportedly improving for women.[18]
U.S. Department of State TIP Report Summary (2019)
U.S. Department of State TIP Ranking: Tier 2 Watch List
Migrant and Other Vulnerable Populations
Exports and Trade
Trafficking in Persons Risk Factors Analysis
Legal/Policy Risk Factors
LEVEL OF LEGAL PROTECTION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES AND WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Freedom of Association
The Congolese constitution and law allow for freedom of association. Political, social, or economic groups or associations were required to register with the Ministry of Interior and Decentralization.[26] Citizens hold the right to collectively bargain. There have been reported instances of police abductions of unionists, arrests of unionists for peaceful strikes, and unionists being subjected to harassment and threats from government and authority figures.[27]
Working Conditions
The law sets the minimum wage at CFA 90,000 (USD 160) per month in the formal sector. There is no official minimum wage in the agricultural sector and other informal sectors. The high cost of urban living causes many working in the formal sector to seek secondary employment in informal sectors. There is no legal limit on the number of hours worked per week, but the law does provide a standard work week of seven hours per day with a one-hour lunch break for five days per week. The law requires overtime pay for work outside of regular working hours. There are no laws prohibiting excessive compulsory overtime. The U.S. Department of State has reported that observance of workplace safety standards law is often lax, and that workers do not have any specific right to leave work situations that could harm their health or safety without jeopardizing their employment. There are no reported exceptions for foreign or migrant workers and authorities are not reported to protect workers effectively in unsafe working situations.[28]
Discrimination
The constitution prohibits discrimination based on family background, ethnicity, social condition, age, political or philosophical belief, gender, religion, region of origin within the country, place of residence in the country, HIV-positive status, or disability. The U.S Department of State has reported that these provisions are not reiterated in law outside of the constitution and discrimination often occurs towards women, refugees, and indigenous people. The law also stipulates that women should receive equal pay for equal work, but most women are employed in the informal sector where labor law is not often followed.[29]
Forced Labor
The constitution prohibits forced labor unless it is part of a criminal penalty mandated in court.[30]
Child Labor
The minimum legal working age is 16. The law also prohibits forced labor, trafficking and all forms of slavery, child soldiering and forced recruitment for child soldiering, and prostitution for children under 18. The law provides the maximum penalty for violators of the worst forms of child labor is a fine of CFA francs 1.16 million (USD 1,975) or five years in prison. The U.S. Department of State has reported minimal enforcement of these laws and very little prosecution of violators.[31]
Civil Society Organizations
Some domestic and international human rights groups occasionally operated without government restriction. Human rights groups were frequently denied access to prisons and detention centers. Domestic human rights groups did not often report on specific incidents out of fear of government reprisal.[32]
Immigration Policies Limiting the Employment Options or Movement of Migrants
There are no reported discriminatory immigration laws in the Congo. The U.S. Department of State has noted that low-level corruption in immigration and customs does exist.[33] Amnesty International reported forced deportation of thousands of nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Deportees were subject to police brutality and rape. West African immigrants were also targeted for deportation in 2015.[34]
Ratification of ILO Conventions Related to Human Trafficking or Rights of Workers and Migrants
[35]
USE OF EXPORT PROCESSING ZONES (EPZs)
Congo is also in the planning period for four special economic zones (SEZs). They will be located in the oil hub of Pointe-Noire, Brazzaville, and Ouesso and Oyo in the north.[36]
Political Risk Factors
POLITICAL INSTABILITY OR CONFLICT
The Republic of the Congo scored a 93.4 in the 2017 Fragile State Index putting it in the “alert” category. The Congo’s score has been worsening by an average of 1 point a year every year since 2014.[37] According to Amnesty International, opposition leaders were arrested and faced violence following the most recent election.[38] The U.S. Department of State considers the Republic of Congo to be a “post-conflict society.” The final peace accord from the 1997-1999 civil war was signed in 2003, but political unrest continues.[39]
LEVEL OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE
The U.S. Department of State reports that the crime threat level in the Congolese capital of Brazzaville is high.[40]
STATE PERSECUTION
Amnesty International reported that political opponents to President Sassou-N’guessoo face arrest and intimidation. Security forces have also been reported to torture those who dissenters.[41]
The U.S. State Department reported that sex workers and gay men are targeted for arrest.[42]
Refugees and migrants are frequently targeted in the Congo. There have been numerous reports of immigrants being targeted for arrest by security forces. “Irregular immigration” was often the justification for the arrest, despite the refugee carrying valid identification cards indicating their status. Refugees from the CAR are targeted under the claim that because the war in the CAR has ended, they are no longer refugees. In some rural communities, refugees have been banned from farming.[43]
Indigenous peoples also face persecution and discrimination. The U.S. Department of State reported that indigenous citizens in the Congo faced marginalization in employment, health services, housing, and education. Suppressive electoral practices were reported during the 2015 referendum to prevent indigenous peoples from voting.[44]
LEVEL OF CORRUPTION
The Transparency International Corruption Perception Index scores Congo as 20 out of 100, where 0 signals “Highly Corrupt” and 100 signals “Very Clean.” Congo ranked 159 out of 176 on that index.[45]
The World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators reported government corruption as a severe problem. The U.S. Department of State reported that there is a widespread perception of corruption. One avenue of corruption is the misuse of revenue from natural resources.[46] Freedom House reported that the State oil company is under the direct control of President Sassou-N’guesso which contributes to actual and perceived government corruption.[47]
Socio-Economic Risk Factors
LEVEL OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Congo is scored in the medium human development category, according the UN Human Development Index, with a rank of 135 out of 188 (with 188 being the “least developed.”). Congo’s score of .592 is lower than its northern neighbor Gabon, but higher than its southern and northeastern neighbors, the DRC and CAR.[48]
LEVEL AND EXTENT OF POVERTY
Congo has a relatively high level of poverty with 43 percent of the population reported as living in “multidimensional poverty” by the UN.[49] When adjusted for inequality, Congo’s HDI score falls to a.446, a loss of 15 percent.[50] Congo’s gross national income (GNI) per capita was USD 6,320 in 2015. This is a large improvement from 2010, when the GNI per capita was USD 4,120.[51]
DEGREE OF GENDER INEQUALITY
The UNDP scores Congo relatively low on the Gender Inequality Index at .592 in 2015, with the most equal score being .040 and the least equal score being .767.[52]
Gender equality is protected by the Congolese constitution in the law. The law also stipulates that women should receive equal pay for equal work. Despite this, women were underrepresented in the formal sector and had little access to formal employment benefits. No laws limit women’s participation in the political process but sexual harassment is reported to discourage women’s participation in political activities. The U.N. reported that rape is illegal but the law is not well enforced. The OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index reported that there are no specific legislations prohibiting domestic violence.[53] Women are also reported to experience economic discrimination with respect to employment, credit, equal pay, and owning a business.[54]
Women have access to land ownership through matrilineal or patrilineal filiations, marriage, and rent or purchase. The Congolese government reported in 2002 that only 25 percent of women own agricultural land, and usually smallholdings.[55] In practice, women lose rights to land in divorce cases.[56]
LANDLESSNESS AND DISPOSSESSION
After the 2015 elections, government-led violence drove 17,000 people to leave their homes in southern regions. During the same month, thousands were displaced in the Pool region of the country due to government-led airstrikes. 13,000 people remain internally displaced in the Congo.[57] According to the U.S. Department of State, indigenous people are often forced to live in substandard housing on the perimeters of villages. Logging activity has displaced forest dwelling indigenous communities. The Congolese government implemented a law to respect the land rights of indigenous peoples, but reportedly did not enforce this law.[58]
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Congo experiences air pollution from vehicle emissions, water pollution from raw sewage, a lack of potable water, and deforestation. The country’s population is highly urban, with 70 percent of the country’s population living in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire and along the railroad between the two cities.[59]
Documented Trafficking and Trafficking Risk in Key Commodity Supply Chains
Oil and Gas
OIL AND GAS OVERVIEW
In 2014, crude oil production made up 59 percent of the Congo’s GDP and 81 percent of its exports.[60] The Congo holds 1.6 billion barrels of oil, accounting for approximately 0.11 percent global reserves.[61]
DOCUMENTED TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS RISK FACTORS IN OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION
Corruption has long been a problem in the sector, with the majority of profits going directly to the Congo’s political elite.[62]
Most areas currently being explored or drilled are in close proximity to local indigenous populations which rely on subsistence agrarian activities.[63] There is widespread anecdotal evidence that oil spills, illegal toxic waste, hazardous gas flaring, and other oil industry related pollution incidents have occurred regularly throughout the industry.[64] There are widespread reports that traditional livelihoods have been impacted.[65]
Related Resources
Resources for Understanding Legal and Policy-Related Risk Factors
Endnotes
[2] U.S Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Republic of the Congo. March 3, 2017. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2016/af/265244.htm
[3] Amnesty International. Annual Report: Congo 2016/2017. 2017. https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/africa/congo/report-congo-republic-of/
[4] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Investment Climate Statements for 2016: Congo, Republic of the. 2016. https://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/investmentclimatestatements/index.htm#wrapper
[5] World Bank. Congo, Rep. 2017. https://data.worldbank.org/country/congo-rep
[6] World Bank. The World Bank in Republic of the Congo: Overview. April 2017, https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/congo/overview
[7] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Investment Climate Statements for 2016: Congo, Republic of the. 2016. https://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/investmentclimatestatements/index.htm#wrapper
[8] International Trade Centre. Bilateral trade between Mauritania and World in 2016. 2016. https://www.trademap.org/Bilateral.aspx?nvpm=
[9] Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook: Congo, Republic of the. May 2017. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cf.html
[10] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Investment Climate Statements for 2016: Congo, Republic of the. 2016. https://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/investmentclimatestatements/index.htm#wrapper
[11] African Economic Outlook. 2016. https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/AEO_2016_Report_Full_English.pdf
[12] Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook: Congo, Republic of the. May 2017. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cf.html
[13] World Bank. Congo, Rep. 2017. https://data.worldbank.org/country/congo-rep
[14] World Bank. Congo, Rep. 2017. https://data.worldbank.org/country/congo-rep
[15] World Bank. Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population): Congo, Rep. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.NAHC?locations=CG
[16] World Bank. Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population): Congo, Rep. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.DDAY?locations=CG
[17] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Human Development Report 2016: Congo. 2016. https://hdr.undp.org/sites/all/themes/hdr_theme/country-notes/COG.pdf
[18] U.S Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Republic of the Congo. March 3, 2017. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2016/af/265244.htm
[19] World Bank. Net Migration: Congo, Rep. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM?locations=CG
[20] United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. International Migrant Stock 2015: Maps. 2015. https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimatesmaps.shtml?1t1
[21] United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. International Migrant Stock 2015: By Destination and Origin. 2015. https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates15.shtml
[22] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). UNHCR Statistics: The World in Numbers. 2015. https://popstats.unhcr.org/en/overview
[23] United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. International Migrant Stock 2015: By Destination and Origin. 2015. https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates15.shtml
[24] International Trade Centre. List of products at 4 digits level exported by Congo in 2016 (Mirror). 2016. https://www.trademap.org/Product_SelProductCountry.aspx?nvpm=1|178||||TOTAL|||4|1|2|2|1|1|1|1|1
[25] International Trade Centre. List of importing markets for the product exported by Congo in 2016 (Mirror). 2016. https://www.trademap.org/Country_SelProductCountry.aspx?nvpm=1|178||||TOTAL|||2|1|2|2|1|1|2|1|1
[26] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Republic of the Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[27] International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights: Congo. 2013. https://survey.ituc-csi.org/Congo-44-Republic-of.html#tabs-1
[28] U.S Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[29] U.S Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[30] U.S Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[31] U.S Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[32] U.S Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[33] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Investment Climate Statements for 2016. https://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/investmentclimatestatements/index.htm#wrapper
[34] Freedom House. Freedom in the World: Congo, Republic of (Brazzaville). 2016. https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2016/congo-republic-brazzaville
[35] International Labour Organization (ILO). Normlex: Ratifications for Congo. 2016. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:11200:0::NO:11200:P11200_COUNTRY_ID:103376
[36] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Investment Climate Statement for 2016: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/investmentclimatestatements/index.htm#wrapper
[37] The Fund for Peace. Fragile State Index 2017. Congo Republic. 2017. https://fundforpeace.org/fsi/country-data/
[38] Amnesty International. Annual Report: Congo 2016/2017. 2017. https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/africa/congo/report-congo-republic-of/
[39] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Investment Climate Statements for 2016: Congo, Republic of the. 2016. https://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/investmentclimatestatements/index.htm#wrapper
[40] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Diplomatic Security (OSAC). Republic of the Congo 2017 Crime and Safety Report. 2017. https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=21443
[41] Amnesty International. 2016/2017 Congo Annual Report. 2017. https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/africa/congo/report-congo-republic-of/
[42] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[43] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[44] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[45] Transparency International. Global Corruption Perception Index: Republic of the Congo. 2016. https://www.transparency.org/country/COG#chapterInfo
[46] U.S Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[47] Freedom House. Freedom in the World: Congo, Republic of (Brazzaville). 2016. https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2016/congo-republic-brazzaville
[48] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Human Development Index and its components. 2016. https://hdr.undp.org/en/composite/HDI
[49] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Multidimensional Poverty Index. 2016. https://hdr.undp.org/en/indicators/38406
[50] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Human Development Index and its components. 2016. https://hdr.undp.org/en/composite/HDI
[51] World Bank. GNI per capita, PPP (current international $). 2015. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.PP.CD?end=2015&locations=CG&start=1990
[52] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Gender Inequality Index (GII). 2015. https://hdr.undp.org/en/indicators/68606
[53] OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index. Cong, Republic. 2017. https://www.genderindex.org/country/congo-rep
[54] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[55] OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index. Cong, Republic. 2017. https://www.genderindex.org/country/congo-rep
[56] OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index. Cong, Republic. 2017. https://www.genderindex.org/country/congo-rep
[57] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[58] U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Congo. 2016. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper
[59] Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook: Republic of the Congo. June 2017. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cf.html
[60] U.S. Geological Survey. Minerals Yearbook: Congo (Brazzaville). 2014. https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2014/myb3-2014-cf.pdf
[61] British Petroleum (BP). BP Statistical Review of World Energy. June 2016. https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/pdf/energy-economics/statistical-review-2016/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2016-full-report.pdf
[62] Bertelsmann Stiftung (BTI). Transformation Index: Congo, Rep. Country Report. 2016. https://www.bti-project.org/fileadmin/files/BTI/Downloads/Reports/2016/pdf/BTI_2016_Congo__Rep.pdf
World Bank. Republic of Congo: Employment and Growth Study: From jobless to inclusive growth. June 2011. https://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTDEBTDEPT/Resources/468980-1218567884549/5289593-1224797529767/5506237-1270138945775/DFSG04RepCongoFR.pdf
[63] Global Witness “Protecting Virunga National Park from oil companies.” January 19, 2016. https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/oil-gas-and-mining/protecting-virunga-national-park-oil-companies/.
[64] International Crisis Group. “Black Gold in the Congo: Threat to Stability or Development Opportunity?” July 11, 2012. https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/central-africa/democratic-republic-congo/black-gold-congo-threat-stability-or-development-opportunity.
[65] Petitjean, Olivier. “Perenco in the Democratic Republic of Congo: when oil makes the poor poorer.” Multinationals Observatory. September 1, 2014. https://multinationales.org/Perenco-in-the-Democratic-Republic.
Trafficking Risk in Sub-Saharan African Supply Chains
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