The Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) has kicked started a campaign to sensitise employers and their employees in the private sector on the 2009 Labour Law.

Speaking during one day training for representatives of employers and employees in Gasabo yesterday, the Minister of Labour, Anastase Murekezi, revealed that several workshops will be held to help the private sector use the law to its advantage.

"The 2009 labour law has been designed in such a way that if used well by both employers and employees, it would help increase productivity which is a backbone of development.”
"The 2001 law stipulated the normal working hours in a week as 40, but hours have been increased to 45 in order to increase productivity. If private companies gain much, the government would also gain in terms of taxes and hence the country will develop,” he said.

The Minister told participants that under the new law, unlike the previous one, an employee has the right to sign multiple contracts as agreed by the employers as long as none of the contracts is breached.

"If someone, for example, is a technician, the law allows him or her to work in various companies as long as he or she does not breach any of the contracts signed with the employers.”

Murekezi also clarified on the new law’s take on child labour and warned employers to be careful as the law prohibits employing children below the age of 16.

He however said that at the age of 16-18 years, the law allows them to be employed in work which does not affect their health and body development.

The new labour law also gives clear guidelines on contract signing between the employer and the employee and it has decreased the annual leave period to 18 days.

The Ministerial decree provided a transition of six months for the new law to take full effect from the time it was published in the official gazette. 

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