OUR VISION

How is Unicongo structured?

Unicongo, as the main employers' union in the Republic of Congo, is responsible for representing and defending the interests of employers and companies operating in the country's formal economy. Unlike a confederation, Unicongo does not bring together professional associations, with companies joining the union directly. Our broad membership ranges from very small enterprises (VSEs) to major groups, grouped together in 15 separate sectoral federations.

To fulfill our role to the full, we have assigned ourselves five main missions:
- Conducting collective bargaining with workers' unions: Our Union is the only one authorized by the public authorities to negotiate working conditions, wages, benefits and other aspects of labor relations in the various sectors of the national economy. Our aim is to reach agreements that are fair and mutually acceptable to all parties.

- Advocacy with public authorities: Our daily commitment is to advocate policies that support business and promote the economic development of the Republic of Congo.

- A source of quality information: We provide our members with essential information on labor legislation, best practices in human resources management and other relevant topics.

-Representation before the courts: As several of our members hold positions as assessor judges in labor and commercial courts, we act as employers' representatives on commissions dealing with redundancy disputes for all companies, whether Unicongo members or not.

- Research and analysis: We carry out economic studies and research to provide our members, international institutions and the government with relevant data and analysis. This information helps companies to make informed decisions and anticipate market developments.

In short, Unicongo plays a central role in promoting the interests of employers and companies in the Republic of Congo, by ensuring that their rights are defended, that they are represented in negotiations, and that an environment favorable to business and economic growth is created.


What is your strategy, particularly with regard to improving public-private dialogue ?

We strive to avoid the situation where we passively wait for measures to be implemented before expressing contradictory opinions, especially when we consider that these measures run counter to improving the business climate. Instead, we take a proactive approach by maintaining a constant dialogue with public authorities. In addition, in 2021, we produced a white paper providing a clear diagnosis of the business environment in our country, and proposing a number of possible solutions. In 2024, we plan to repeat this exercise, broadening our thinking to include proposals aimed at truly diversifying our economy.


What advice would you give to a future investor in the Congo?

The advice we systematically give to new entrants to the Congolese market is to team up with a local company wherever possible, preferably a Unicongo member. Investing with a local partner offers many advantages: market knowledge, networks, risk reduction, regulatory compliance, credibility, local resources, social responsibility, cultural adaptation and access to government incentives. However, the choice of partner requires due diligence and clarity of purpose. Ultimately, this collaboration can help foreign investors succeed in our sometimes complex market.