SECTOR 4 In 2009, journalists and their employers signed a collective bargaining agreement, which set the minimum salary for journalists in the private press at CFAF 90,000 (137 Euro). But the terms of the convention are largely ignored. Nonetheless, a few media houses like La Semaine Africaine, TOP TV, Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, ES TV, MNCOM respect the convention while others have even negotiated contracts with their employees above the rates stated in the collective agreement. The contract is often referred to in settling labour disputes between journalists and their employers. Across the board, journalists do not feel that their safety and security is ensured. The headquarters of the public broadcaster is guarded by republican guards, a military elite squad responsible for the security of the president. But journalists there feel the guards are there to spy on them more than they are there to protect them. Even employees must be searched each time they enter the building. Working conditions are generally not good, with few media houses offering good facilities and office spaces. The state broadcaster is an exception. It moved into a new building in 2009, with better offices, work stations and computers. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 1.9 4.4 Journalists and other media practitioners are organised in trade unions and/or professional associations, which effectively represent their interests. About a dozen media associations operate in Congo and are believed to be working in the interest of journalists, especially their members. Most of the country’s active associations more or less played a role in drawing up the industry’s collective bargaining agreement. The most prominent of them include: AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 2013 115