•Boss threatens to sue The New Times

KIGALI - A former worker of RWACOM, a plastic industry in Kigali, claims that he has been sacked following a story published by The New Times about workers complaining of harsh working conditions.

The former RWACOM worker, Bosco Rubayiza, , said that following The New Times story published on July 19, management circulated a document requiring all workers to sign it denying having spoken to The New Times and also to disown what was contained in the story.

Others still working at the factory but speaking on condition of anonymity said they also fear they will lose their jobs.

According to the termination letter given to Rubayiza, management mentioned insubordination, smoking while on duty, dozing at work and poor performance as reasons for his sacking.

However, Rubayiza said that he was really sacked after refusing to divulge the names of those who spoke to The New Times and sign the documents disowning the story.

"[Management] asked me who went to The New Times and I refused to tell them anything and two days later the director sacked me,” said Rubayiza.

Workers still employed by RWACOM who preferred to remain anonymous, said that the company refuses to give them identity cards or any other documents indicating that they are employed by the company; they are therefore unable to lodge complaints with the authorities.

The workers further claimed that Hitesh Shah, the director of the company, told them after the story was published, that there is nothing they can do to him as he has top connections in the country including being known to the President.

"We are all in real danger of losing our jobs. This is his method of work. Whoever complains is sacked and that is how he has operated since we started working for him,” complained the visibly angry workers.

The workers also denied being used by RWACOM’s business rivals as the company management had earlier told The New Times.

When we called the RWACOM boss, his mobile phone was picked by his wife Nenna Shah who also doubles as the company’s co-director.

She denied having sacked the worker for talking to the press and that when she asked them, all her workers denied having talked to the press.

She went on to threaten legal action against The New Times and this reporter.

"Why don’t you leave RWACOM alone? My workers said that they have never spoken to you. You wrote a story about RWACOM and if you do it again, I will have a case against you,” Nenna Shah threatened

The National Labour Inspector in the Ministry of Labour, Julie Kamukama told The New Times in a telephone interview that they would go and investigate the allegations made by the RWACOM workers.

"We plan to visit RWACOM to investigate and when we find the workers’ allegations true, we advise the management to change and give them a grace period of one month and if that is not done in that period, we will take necessary action,” said Kamukama.

The head of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority Dr. Rose Mukankomeje also told The New Times that they plan to investigate the impact of the industry on the environment.

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