Maternity and Work
Maternity Leave
Female workers are entitled to a maximum of fourteen weeks (2 weeks prenatal)of maternity leave with pay. Earlier, workers were entitled to 12 weeks of paid paternity leave.
Working women are required to provide medical certificates signed by a doctor, confirming the expected date of delivery before starting of the maternity leave; and the exact date of delivery after childbirth. A woman may start her leave two weeks before the tentative date of delivery. When there are complications in childbirth, a female employee, after being ascertained by a recognised medical doctor, can get an additional leave of up to one month, which will be paid in accordance with the law.
On giving birth to a stillborn child after the 20th week of pregnancy, such a woman worker is entitled to 8 weeks of maternity leave from the day the baby dies. A female employee whose child dies after birth is entitled to leave equal to the remaining days of her maternity leave. In the event of premature birth, the woman worker is entitled to leave equivalent to the remaining days of the normal delivery period of 9 months. A female employee who has a miscarriage before 20 weeks of pregnancy is granted sick leave in line with the relevant laws. Please see the section on sick leave.
The 2023 Labour Law reform also provides for extended leave for the woman worker and her spouse in the event of complications in the woman worker’s health or the newborn’s.
Source: §56-57 of the Law regulating Labour in Rwanda, 2018 (No. 66/2018); §54 – 57 of the Ministerial Order Nº 02/MIFOTRA/23 of 01/08/2023 on Occupational Safety, Employees’ and Employers’ Organizations, Child Development, Employment of a Foreigner, the Child, and Circumstantial Leave; Law N° 049/2024 Of 04/06/2024 Amending Law N° 003/2016 Of 30/03/2016 Establishing and Governing Maternity Leave Benefits Scheme
Income
Women workers are entitled to fully paid maternity leave for the 14 weeks, earlier 12 weeks. During the first 6 weeks of maternity leave, the employer pays the full salary while the salary for the remaining eight weeks is paid by the Social Security Administration. Maternity leave benefits are equal to the woman worker’s last salary on which the contribution was paid. Payment of maternity leave benefits from the Social Security Administration commences with the seventh week of the maternity leave. If a doctor certifies delivery complications for the mother or newborn, the Social Security Administration grants up to one additional month of maternity leave benefits.
In case of premature birth, the employer pays the woman a salary for the remaining time until the standard 9-month term, with half reimbursed by the Social Security Administration.
If a woman gives birth to a stillborn after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the employer pays her salary for eight weeks, with two weeks reimbursed by the Social Security Administration.
In case of death of a mother before expiry of maternity leave, the Social Security Administration continues to pay to the father or guardian of the surviving newborn the balance of maternity leave benefits that the deceased worker was entitled to.
Employers are required to register an employee with the Social Security Administration within 7 days of the start of employment. The maternity benefits for post-natal maternity leave (8 weeks) are now covered by the Social Security Administration. The benefits are payable from the seventh week of maternity leave.
The maternity benefits are payable if the female worker was registered with the Social Security Administration within 6 months from the date of leave commencement; the female worker must have paid contributions to the scheme for at least a month; and the presentation of a medical certificate of delivery.
The contribution rate is 0.3% of the gross salary, payable by the worker and employer each (0.6% in total).
The employer pays the woman maternity leave benefits due, and the Social Security Administration reimburses those benefits within thirty (30) days of receiving the reimbursement request.
Maternity leave benefits are granted in accordance with the law in accordance to the law to women in Rwanda.
Source: §58 of the Law regulating Labour in Rwanda, 2018 (No. 66/2018); Law N°003/2016 of 30/03/2016 Establishing and Governing Maternity Leave Benefits Scheme amended by Law N° 049/2024 Of 04/06/2024
Pregnancy Testing / Inquiry in Recruitment
There are no legal provisions prohibiting an employer from inquiring about pregnancy during recruitment.
Free Medical Care
There is no provision for medical benefits for pregnant women and new mothers in the Labour Code. There is an option of community-based health insurance and public health insurance where members have access to certain medical benefits. For more information on this, please refer to the section on medical care.
Regulations on Maternity and Work
- Itegeko rigenga umurimo mu Rwanda, 2009 / Law regulating Labour in Rwanda, 2009 (Labour Code)
