Police in Karongi District are holding five people for allegedly involving underage children in hard labour.

Police said that the suspects, all residents of Murehe cell, Twumba sector, have been exploiting the children, subjecting them to labour exploitation, while working in homes and farmlands.

Child labour is outlawed in Rwanda and the law defines a child as anyone under the age of 16.

The District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Karuranga said, "These people were exploiting children as young as ten years of age; this can’t be allowed to continue, children must be in school not in fields working.”

SP Karuranga explained that when his office got information on the exploitation of the children, it made immediate intervention and arrested the suspects.

He applauded local leaders and parents who always give information to the police about such incidents.

In May this year, Cabinet requested relevant institutions, including Rwanda National Police, to closely monitor the issue of child labour and hold the offenders to account.

The Ministry of Public Service and Labour defines child labour as the denial of children’s rights and a barrier to holistic child development.

The ministry categorises children in their age groups permissible to work, where all children younger than five are assumed to be economically inactive.

Children between five and 12 years are, however, allowed to perform unpaid household chores but are not allowed to work for more than 20 hours a week.

Children aged between the ages of 13 to 15 are allowed to perform light work, which includes domestic work and other family income generating activities inside or outside of their household, in not more than 20 hours a week.

The minimum employment age in Rwanda is 16 years. 

Children between the ages of 16 to 17 are allowed to perform all activities except the worst forms of child labour and hazardous work.

In November 2016, a report by the ministry indicated that there had been commendable progress toward the elimination of child labour, including its worst forms, in Rwanda.

Among the achievements includes the adoption of the Early Childhood Development Policy, that came into force in September 2016, which addresses the holistic development of the child and promotes inter-sectoral planning for the welfare of children.

Also cited was the enforcement of child labour elimination laws, regulations and policies.

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