By JOHNSON KANAMUGIRE

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Rights groups have raised concern about the way the government deals with labour-related issues and cite discrepancies between workers’ rights as stipulated in the policies and the reality on ground.

They say that despite the country’s labour laws advocating for better workers’ rights and protection, there were many gaps in implementation of specific provisions, exposing those in desperate need for work to exploitation by employers especially in the growing informal sector.

The situation is worsened by the lack of a minimum wage that matches the rising cost of living. Labour law amendments are also needed to check abuses in the informal labour market, which currently faces rising rates of unemployment and underemployment.

A report by the Great Lakes Initiative for Human Rights and Development (GLIHD) examined how the country applied a number of ratified conventions of The International Labour Organisation (ILO). It specifically cited gaps related to handling of discrimination during recruitment, employment and occupation; weak labour inspections and lack of measures to enforce decisions and rulings, and insufficient penalties.

No evidence

For instance, they say the government says it has a special appeal procedure against acts of discrimination through the civil service commission, but there was no evidence showing which procedure is applied and proof for its practicability.

According to GLIHD, there was no information to show the number of appeals filed, the grounds set for discrimination, outcome of cases, compensation or penalties.

Besides, the national labour inspection system was labelled as weak, with an assessment pointing to an insufficient number of inspectors, lack of skills and legal barriers to carry out the work, while in other instances decisions or rulings were never enforced.

Godfrey Kamukunde, a labour consultant who conducted the report said there was a need for specialised judicial chambers to handle labour-related issues and provide appropriate solutions.

He added that the law also limits labour inspectors from gaining entry to work premises after official working hours.

“With restricted entry to working premises abour inspectors’ ability to carry out quality control of firms or institutions whose operations may be violating the rights of workers is hampered,” said Mr Kamukunde.

“There needs to be changes in the labour code to address all these issues,” he added.

Long overdue

Workers’ right groups like COTRAF and trade unions say issues like setting a minimum wage and protecting the rights of informal sector workers have been long overdue.

For long, they have raised issue with the low pay offered to pensioners, as well as the little compensation for work-related injuries and illnesses under the existing social security regimes.

As per the rates offered by the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), a victim of a work related hazard gets Rwf295 per day, which the workers’ rights groups say is too low to pay for basic needs.

RSSB recently increased pension benefits, but workers’ unions say the increase was too little to match rising inflation and high cost of living.

The Ministry of Public Service and Labour said all these are issues will be addressed in changes to the labour law, which is expected to include revisions to the minimum wage whose study was finalised and approved in 2015.

Habess Nkundimana, the chief labour inspector said the ministry was carrying out consultations with different stakeholders about the minimum wage as the labour code is amended in parliament.

“We hope to have the amendments finalised before the end of the year,” he said.