Justice for Congo: Demanding Compensation for Victims of Glencore’s Corruption
Three anti-corruption and human rights groups have submitted a request to the US Department of Justice to award compensation to 28 former healthcare employees in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who suffered personal and financial harm due to corruption by multinational company Glencore.
Glencore’s Guilty Plea: A Long Road to Justice
Two years ago, Glencore pled guilty to foreign bribery and market manipulation schemes for their business activities in multiple countries, including the DRC. As part of a settlement with authorities in Brazil, the UK, and the US, Glencore was required to pay $1.1 billion in combined fines and penalties.
The Bribes that Changed Lives
According to the US Department of Justice, Glencore paid at least $100 million in bribes to public officials in several countries between 2007 and 2018. In the DRC alone, the company was found to have paid at least $27.5 million in bribes to secure important business advantages for its mining operations.
The Human Cost of Corruption
The victims, who include nurses, cleaners, gardeners, drivers, and administrative personnel, lost their jobs when Glencore paid a bribe to a Congolese judge for a favourable ruling in a contract dispute. They described significant hardships as a result of losing their jobs, including:
- Little or no severance pay
- Prolonged periods of unemployment
- Lower pay in subsequent employment
A Call for Justice
The submission was presented by the counsel representing the interests of the former employees, Mark Silver, to the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section for their consideration under their administrative remission procedure.
“We believe that there is an undeniable link between Glencore’s corruption, the collapse of Crusader Health, and the personal hardships endured by its Congolese employees,” said Anneke Van Woudenberg, Executive Director of RAID. “Yet because these workers lack the means to access US courts, they have had no opportunity to be heard or to claim compensation.”
“It’s time comprehensive efforts are made to identify and compensate those affected, especially the most vulnerable,” added Van Woudenberg.
“This submission seeking justice for victims in the DRC is a unique opportunity for the Department of Justice to deliver a more equitable outcome for those who have suffered from Glencore’s actions,” said Maíra Martini, Head of Policy & Advocacy (Interim) at Transparency International. “Unfortunately, foreign bribery has been treated as a victimless crime for far too long.”
“Victims of corruption in the Global South are frequently ignored by both foreign and domestic courts,” said Josué Kashal, lawyer at CAJJ. “We hope the US Department of Justice will seriously consider our submission and address the severe harm experienced by Congolese health workers due to Glencore’s corruption.”