To ensure that a newborn child receives adequate care and that the mother has sufficient time to recover and regain strength, the government of Rwanda has recently amended the laws regarding maternity leave benefits.

The updated regulations are captured in Law No.049/2024, enacted on June 4, 2024, which amends the previous Law No. 003/2016 of April 30,2016.

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Annet Kokundeka, Manager of the Maternity Leave Benefits Scheme in the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), highlighted the significant changes made to support particularly women on maternity leave, and their newborn children.

"According to the amended law; female employees who have given birth are now entitled to 14 consecutive weeks of leave. This includes 2 weeks of leave prior to the expected delivery date, totalling 98 days,” this marks an increase from the previous provision of 12 weeks, or 84 days.

"An employer pays a woman on maternity leave a salary of 14 weeks, including the eight weeks covered by the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration reimburses the employer for the benefits of eight weeks paid to a woman on maternity leave while the salary of six weeks is paid by the employer,” she added.

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The scheme manager continued to explain that it is no longer necessary for a woman going on maternity leave to contribute at least one month before the leave. Additionally, if a woman gives birth to a stillborn child after the start of the 20th week of pregnancy, the employer pays to her a salary of eight weeks, including two weeks covered and reimbursed to the employer by the Social Security administration.

"A woman whose child dies after birth has a right to maternity leave benefits. An employer pays a woman on maternity leave a salary of 14 weeks, including the eight weeks covered and reimbursed to the employer by RSSB,” she said.

If a woman on maternity leave dies before the expiry of maternity leave covered and the child survives, RSSB pays to the father or legal guardian of the child maternity leave benefits that the woman would have benefited.

Kokundeka added that in case of premature birth, when a baby is being cared for, the employer pays a woman a salary equivalent to the remaining time to normal delivery period of 9 months, including half covered and reimbursed to the employer by RSSB.

"A woman who has completed the leave mentioned above, is entitled to a maternity leave of 14 weeks and receives maternity leave benefits. An employer is reimbursed by RSSB for maternity leave benefits he or she has paid when – he or she has granted a woman maternity leave, he or she has paid a woman on maternity leave benefits covered by RSSB, he or she has filed with RSSB a request for reimbursement of benefits paid to a woman on maternity leave covered within six months from the date on which the woman completed her maternity leave,” she said.

This law came into force on the day it was published in the official Gazette, but its validity started on August 2, 2023. This will enable employers who provided 14 weeks of maternity leave to women, based on Ministerial Decree 02/MIFOTRA/23 of August 1, 2023, but were reimbursed 12 weeks only by the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), to be reimbursed for the additional two weeks.

RSSB has modernised the process of applying for maternity leave benefits reimbursement, through a new online application.

Jean de Dieu Tugirimana, one of the developers of this application, explains that employers can request reimbursement through www.ishema.rssb.rw. He said that the first one needs to be registered under Ishema and follow the steps.

Kokundeka urges employers to comply with Rwanda Social Security Board and Labour Law to ensure that workers receive the benefits they are entitled to. Compliance not only upholds legal standards but also fosters a fair and supportive work environment for all employees.