Socio-economic dimensions of the wage treatment of workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A multivariate analysis based on data from the 1-2-3 survey

This research analyzes the socioeconomic dimensions of the wage treatment of workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Based on data from the 1-2-3 Survey, which reveals long-term wage structures, a multivariate analysis was conducted using a combination of Principal Component Analysis and Multiple Correspondence Analysis. This analysis aims to verify the behavior of the factors determining the wage treatment of workers in the DRC. Conducted in two phases, the first highlighted the quantitative characteristics of the remuneration of Congolese workers based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA), while the second analyzed the qualitative characteristics. The results relating to the quantitative characteristics of the remuneration of Congolese workers through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) suggest that wage treatment in the Democratic Republic of Congo is linked to seniority, age, annual income, number of dependents, and housing and electricity allowances. These variables display positive correlations with wage treatment. Conversely, the qualitative characteristics of remuneration, observed on the basis of Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), indicate that wage treatment in the Democratic Republic of Congo is characterized by three main predictors: registration with the CNSS, socio-professional category, and gender. In other words, workers benefiting from good protection and belonging to socio-professional categories benefit from relatively optimal wage treatment. Contribution/ Originality: This study contributes to the literature by providing a multivariate analysis of wage treatment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It highlights an estimation methodology based on data from the national 1-2-3 survey and is among the few studies examining the socioeconomic determinants of wage disparities.