The Minister of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) yesterday revealed that the draft of the new Labour Code which was expected to be presented to parliament by January had been handed over to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Speaking to The New Times on phone, Anastase Murekezi said that the final draft was completed and sent to the Prime Minister for justification.

"We finished the final draft of the new labour code and presented it to the Prime Minister and we are waiting for it to be presented to parliament any time soon,” said the minister.

Late last year during a consultative meeting which had brought together employers and workers’ representatives to share ideas on the new labour code, the minister had said that the draft would be presented to parliament by January this year.

The existing labour code has many irregularities that were incompatible with the 2003 National Constitution and the International Labour Convention.

The idea of the new Code was to have in place a flexible legislation that would match with all these aspects
The new Labour Code will see more improvements in laws concerning maternity leave, annual workers’ leave, death benefits and the law on contracts.

Last year Murekezi had also said that it would facilitate the developing of a labour force that will facilitate the country’s development pace despite the existing world economic huddles.

He stressed that they the ministry was determined to meet its goals through developing small and large scale investments.
If all goes as planned, the new Labour Code will be in force by May this year he promised.

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