Fair Treatment
Equal Pay
The Constitution of Rwanda supports the principle of equal pay by stating that persons with the same competence and ability have a right to equal pay for equal work without discrimination.
In accordance with the Labour Code, every employer must pay its employees an equal salary for work of equal value without discrimination of any kind. Under the Labour Code, it is a right of a worker to receive equal salary for works of equal value without any discrimination.
Source: §30 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda 2003 revised in 2015; §9 & 40 of the Law regulating Labour in Rwanda, 2018 (No. 66/2018)
Non-Discrimination
In accordance with the Constitution, all Rwandans are born and remain free and equal in rights and duties. All forms of discrimination on the basis of, inter alia, ethnic origin, tribe, clan, colour, sex, region, social origin, religion or faith, opinion, economic status, culture, language, social status, physical or mental disability or any other form of discrimination is prohibited and punishable by law.
The Labour Code also prohibits discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin, family or ancestry, clan, skin colour or race, sex, region, economic categories, religion or faith, opinion, fortune, cultural difference, language, physical or mental disability or any other form of discrimination.
According to the 2018 law, discrimination includes all those acts that are aimed at denying a person or a group of people their rights granted under the Rwandan law or international conventions ratified by Rwanda, on the basis of race, ethnicity, origin, clan, family connection, colour of skin, sex, region, nationality, religion, political ideology, economic classes, culture, language, social status, physical or mental disability or physical appearance.
A person convicted of committing discrimination is liable to imprisonment for a term of 5-7 years and a fine of 0.5-1 million Rwandan francs.
Source: §11 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda 2003 revised in 2015; §9 of the Law regulating Labour in Rwanda, 2018 (No. 66/2018); §163 of the Law Nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 on offences and penalties
Equal Choice of Profession
The Constitution of Rwanda grants the right to work to all citizens. The Constitution states that every person has the right to free choice of employment.
Women can work in the same industries as men, as no restrictive provision can be located in the law.
Source: §37 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda 2003, revised in 2015
Regulations on Fair Treatment
- Law regulating Labour in Rwanda, 2009 (Labour Code) / Itegeko rigenga umurimo mu Rwanda, 2009
- Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda, 2003 / Itegeko nshinga rya Repubulika y'u Rwanda, 2003
