Congo Union Calls Strike Demanding Wage Increase

Civil service leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo called for a strike on Friday, demanding pay rises to help workers in the midst of an economic crisis. 

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The Collective of Syndicates of the Public Administration asked members from all ministries "to close their offices and to no longer go to work until payment for the month of July is executed at the budgetary rate" at a meeting in the country's capital, Kinshasa.

It is not yet known how many workers will respond to the call, but the country's Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala, has said he planned to sign a decree raising salaries once the measure is approved by the full cabinet and the president.

Congo's deepening economic woes are worsening amid political turmoil related to President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down when his mandate expired in December after 16 years in power.

Congo depends on its oil and mining sectors for about 95 percent of export revenues.

Under persistently low prices for key commodity exports, the country now only has enough foreign currency reserves to cover about three weeks of imports, the Central Bank announced.

The national currency, the franc, has devalued 40 percent in the past year, with a particularly sharp decline over the past week. Inflation is also expected to top 30 percent this year, but wages remain unchanged.

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The government has requested financial support from the International Monetary Fund, and other institutions to help restore reserves and stabilize the franc. But the IMF said any assistance would likely require measures to address the current political impasse.

A presidential election to replace Kabila, in power since 2001, was scheduled for last November, but was postponed due to delays registering voters. There have been widespread demonstrations that led to the deaths of dozens of people since then.

Congo's election commission head said this month that it would be unlikely to hold the vote this year, leading Kabila's opponents to threaten further street demonstrations.

Opposition leader Martin Fayulu said on Twitter that authorities had stopped the main opposition bloc from holding a convention where it was expected to announce the protests.