Incumbent President Paul Kagame said that he will follow up and address the issue of the lack of a ministerial order that would see the provision of a minimum wage in Rwanda, despite the law regulating labour that was enacted in 2018.

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He said this while addressing local and international journalists on July 13, following the final campaign rally at Gahanga site where close to 500,000 RPF-Inkotanyi supporters gathered.

The RPF Chairman and flagbearer in the presidential elections slated for July 14 to 16, began his campaign trail on June 22, in Musanze District and has continuously attracted crowds of supporters across different venues.

The labour law enacted five years ago left key minimum wage provision details at the discretion of the minister in charge of labour to determine, based on each category of occupation – but it has not yet been set.

According to lawmakers, labour unions and insurance firms, this situation affects the employees’ welfare as workers earn low wages mismatching the high cost of living and creates controversies in compensation payments for accident victims by insurers, among others.

ALSO READ: Labour law passed without setting new minimum wage

Workers’ rights activists say the lack of minimum wage infringes on their rights and can create a loophole for labour and employee exploitation — because employers can pay workers as they please since there is no baseline.

BPR shareholders’ claim

Kagame also noted that among the priority issues, he will tackle as soon as he takes office once elected will be to address the unmet dividend claims raised by shareholders of Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR) over years, even before it was merged with KCB Rwanda.

Both financial institutions merged in 2022 and formed one bank known as BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, positioning itself as the second-largest bank in Rwanda with an asset base of Rwf860 billion by the end of 2023, and a network of 154 branches.

However, during the lender’s annual general meeting held in May this year, the Managing Director Patience Mutesi said that the management withheld dividends to further cement its financial position in the market given that the bank is still in its nascent phase requiring more investments.

She mentioned that investments were being channelled to revamp the bank’s branches across the country, reinforcing digital channels, and staff upskilling training.