Population: 4,400,000
Capital: Bangui
ILO Core Conventions Ratified: 29 – 87 – 98 – 100 – 105 – 111 – 138 – 182

The demands of workers and their representatives are usually ignored or rejected, as social dialogue is not a priority for the government. An education workers' union continued to be denied recognition. Serious restrictions apply despite recent legal amendments.

Trade union rights in law

The new Labour Code that was adopted in January 2009 brought some well-needed but inadequate improvements. Access to union office is still restricted, and foreigners who want to organise face residency requirements of at least two years. In addition, although the Labour Code provides some protection for unions against interference by employers, is does not cover measures aimed at placing unions under economic or other forms of control by the employer.

Trade unions and professional groupings of workers are held in equal standing, and both may negotiate collectively. A strike may only be called in support of work-related demands, and the government reserves the right to requisition workers if deemed in the "general interest". Furthermore, strikes are banned until all conciliation and arbitration procedures have been exhausted.

Trade union rights in practice and violations in 2009

Background: The continued fighting, population displacements and a fall in mining revenue led to deteriorating living conditions. In August, UNICEF estimated that nearly 700,000 children were suffering from malnutrition and at risk of dying.

Ineffective labour inspection: Labour inspection is virtually non-existent owing to the lack of staff and resources. Travel costs are not reimbursed, as the government itself recognises. Inspections are therefore rare and no inspection reports have ever been made.

Government contempt for unions: The trade unions have often complained of persecution and of the contempt they are treated with. On 12 January, members of the taxi drivers' union affiliated to the National Workers Union of Central Africa (USTC) were harassed and threatened by the authorities during a well-supported strike.

No recognition for education union: In August, Thierry Zouma, general secretary of the National Autonomous Union of Higher Education Teachers (SYNAES), once again called for the recognition of his organisation. Following a long general strike in 2008, the union leader was dismissed from his job.

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