Trade Unions
Freedom to Join and Form a Union
Constitution and labour law provides for freedom of association and allows workers and employers to join and form unions for the defence and promotion of legitimate professional interests.
The right to form and join a union is regulated by the labour code. A trade union is an association of workers executing similar or related professions with the exclusive purpose of studying and defending their economic and social interests. Trade unions are independent, that is, they are not established or run by the employer or do not receive budget support from the Government. The trade unions are not involved in political activities.
Union members are free to elect their representatives and formulate their work program. They may draw up their own statutes, and administrative regulations, organize their management and their activity and design their plan of action as long as these are not contrary to laws in effect and public order.
The unions must get registered with the Ministry by filing their statutes. The statutes must be written in three official languages and signed by a public notary of the District in which a Trade Union or an Employers' Professional Organisation has its head office. The Ministry in charge of labour responds to these statutes within 90 days of their reception and provides written observation, if necessary, to the representatives of the trade union. If the Ministry of Labour does not reply within this period, the interested parties may address their concerns to the relevant authorities. The publication of Statutes of a Trade Union in the Official Gazette grants it legal personality. A trade union must have at least 100 members working in the sector of activity.
The employer may deduct union dues from the wages of the members only after their written consent. Discriminatory behaviour is prohibited by the employer on the basis of union affiliation or participation in union activities. The employer is not allowed to use any means of pressure for or against any trade union organization.
Source: §6, 83-85 & 87 of the Law regulating Labour in Rwanda, 2018 (No. 66/2018); §27-35 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
Freedom of Collective Bargaining
According to the Constitution, trade unions and employers' associations have the right to enter into general or specific agreements regulating their working relations. The modalities for making these agreements are determined by the Law.
In accordance with the Labour Code, collective negotiation (collective bargaining) is a discussion between one or several employers and representatives of one or several registered trade unions that can take place at the national level or at the levels of categories of similar professions or service firms.
A collective agreement may contain provisions that are more favourable for workers than those provided by the laws related to:
- Recruitment and contract termination terms.
- Employee rights to union membership and freedom of opinion.
- Professional categories.
- Salaries, overtime rates, probation, and notice periods.
- Paid leave, seniority, and transport allowances.
- Terms for revising or modifying the agreement.
- Dispute resolution procedures.
- Agreement commencement details.
. Worker and employer may not agree on provisions that are contrary or less favourable than those of laws and regulations in force.
A collective agreement may be signed for a specified or unspecified period of time. In cases where there are no contrary provisions, the convention for a specified period that expires remains effective as if it is a convention for an unspecified period.
The collective labour convention (collective agreement) is deposited with the clerk of the court competent in labour-related matters for registration. The convention is submitted with 5 original copies by one of the parties, immediately furnished with acknowledgment of receipt. These provisions are applicable to any worker and employer within the concerned area and profession, in accordance with the period and procedure stipulated in the convention.
The National Labour Council is a tripartite committee that consists of fifteen members with five representatives each from the government, workers, and employers. The Council comments and gives its advice on labour law, minimum wage, and other labour-related matters. Committees established by the council are to act as arbitrators and settle collective labour disputes when the parties cannot reach a settlement.
Source: §32 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda 2003 as revised in 2015; §91-95 of the Law regulating Labour in Rwanda, 2018 (No. 66/2018); §163 of the Law regulating Labour in Rwanda 2009 (National Labour Council)
Right to Strike
Strike is an interruption of work or late arrival for work by some or all workers with a purpose to oblige the employer or any other organization, to which the employer is affiliated, to accept, modify or abandon a certain decision.
The right to strike is enshrined in the Constitution and regulated by the Labour Code. According to the Constitution, all workers have the right to strike, and it should be exercised within the limits provided for by the law. However, this right should not interfere with the freedom to work that is guaranteed for every individual.
A peaceful strike is allowed only after all the methods of dispute resolution (negotiation, conciliation, and arbitration) fail. Strikers must inform the employer and the Ministry of Labour at least 4 days prior to the proposed date of the strike.
A competent court decides whether the strike is legal or illegal. An illegal strike may result in legal action against workers, trade unions, and all others directly or indirectly involved in it. Strikers have to pay compensation for the damages deliberately caused to goods and equipment.
A Lawful strike or lockout must not affect the employment relationship between the employer and employee. An employer or an employee is not allowed to terminate an employment contract as a result of a lawful strike or lockout.
Workers employed in essential services have to follow particular procedures to exercise their right to strike. These procedures permit the maintenance of the necessary minimum service for the security of people and their goods. Essential services are those meant to safeguard people's basic rights and freedoms such as the right to life, health, freedom, and security, freedom of movement, and freedom of communication and information. Strike or lockout cannot interrupt or stop the following essential services: medical services; water distribution; electricity distribution; business services and activities related to the purchase of basic food stuffs; services and activities related to the collection and transport of waste; transmission and telecommunication services like radio and television, internet and other means of communication and distribution of information for public interest.
Strike or lock-out must not interrupt or stop the following services related to freedom of movement of people, rescue and education: transportation; supply, distribution and selling of fuel or any other petroleum product used by vehicles, ships and airplanes; activities carried out at airports and those connected to air traffic control; emergency services and relief activities carried out by humanitarian organisations or associations involved in humanitarian activities; services and activities related to fire extinguishing; education services;services and works done by aid agencies; firefighting services; hospitals; water distribution and other related services; electricity distribution or works on water dams; public transportation of people on land, water and air; activities linked to supplying, distributions and selling of fuel and oil and activities carried out at airports and air traffic control.
An excessively long list of indispensable/essential services is provided under Ministerial Order Nº 004/19.20 Of 17/03/2020 Determining Essential Services that should not be Interrupted during Strike or Lock-Out
Source: §33 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015; §91-95 of the Law regulating Labour in Rwanda, 2018 (No. 66/2018); Ministerial Order Nº 004/19.20 Of 17/03/2020 Determining Essential Services that should not be Interrupted during Strike or Lock-Out
Regulations on Trade Unions
- Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda, 2003, revised in 2015
- Ministerial Order Nº 02/MIFOTRA/22 Of 30/08/2022 on Occupational Safety, Employees’ and Employers’ Organisations, Child Employment, Employment of a Foreigner, the Child And Circumstantial Leave
- Decree Law of August 22, 1974 Concerning Organization of Social Security
