SECTOR 4 For others, corruption is a broader, general social issue, a near systemic practice, which is met with complete impunity, and reaches the highest spheres of government. The leadership of journalists’ organisations are nonetheless concerned about this situation and are looking at ways and means to put an end to it. 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: 1.6 4.8 Salary levels and general working conditions for journalists and other media practitioners are adequate. There are media bodies, which don’t remunerate journalists at all. In other instances journalists are owed 22 or even 27 months’ pay. Even though the collective bargaining agreement of journalists stipulates a minimum salary that ranges between US$150 and US$540 per month, in practice it is rare to see it being applied. Recruiting conditions are, to a certain extent, one of the causes of this precariousness. Generally speaking, press bodies recruit reporters and journalists without offering them work contracts. However, at the moment of hiring, the employee has to get a contract signed, which at the end of six months is considered indefinite. Congolese state officials, including those working for the RTNC, were underpaid to the extent that certain employers did not feel compelled to improve the working conditions of journalists, rather waiting for discussions with the State to improve the situation. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Democratic Republic of Congo 117