The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has moved to ease restrictions on foreign workers, raising quotas across key industries in an effort to tackle long-standing skills shortages.
A decree signed on 5 August by outgoing Employment and Labour Minister Ephraim Akwakwa lifts ceilings for expatriates in agriculture, construction, manufacturing and the crucial extractive sector to 6.5% of a company’s total workforce. Under rules dating back to 2005, these sectors were capped at just 2–2.5%, often leaving businesses short of specialised expertise.
Banks, commerce, transport, IT and real estate will now be permitted a foreign workforce of up to 4%, compared with limits of 0–2% previously. Crucially, quotas will apply by company rather than job category, scrapping a system that divided limits between directors, supervisors and staff.
The shift answers repeated calls from employers, particularly in mining, where Congo holds the world’s largest cobalt reserves alongside vast copper deposits. Industry leaders have long argued that strict quotas slowed projects and forced constant appeals for exemptions in a country where foreign investment drives public revenues.
The decree, however, reinforces penalties for non-compliance. Firms breaching quotas risk fines of up to 25,000 Congolese francs or even a month’s penal servitude. Private placement agencies, which recruit staff on behalf of other companies, remain authorised to hire up to 15% foreign workers under a separate 2015 provision.
Kinshasa insists the new rules balance the protection of Congolese jobs with the need to keep major industries operating and internationally competitive.
