Editor,First of all, I wish to congratulate the two main national workers’ unions, Cestrar and Cotraf, for coming up with a proposal for a new minimum wage, with demands that the daily minimum wage be at least Rwf1, 500.

It is a shame that we still use a 1974 labour law with regard to pay structures yet the cost of living has since multiplied several times. It is also unacceptable that the Ministry of Public Service and Labour (Mifotra) has failed to come up with a new minimum wage structure, with officials shifting the blame to consultants.I think the ministry should take responsibility for perpetuating exploitation at workplaces – since employers have the right to pay a casual labourer as little as Rwf100 per day!It is also perplexing that the ministry seems unwilling to consider the labour unions’ proposal yet it is based on a survey that was carried out across the country. Instead of spending a lot of money on quack consultants, the ministry should have worked closely with the unions to come up with a new structure that reflects the reality on the ground.Instead of attempting to run away from responsibility, Mifotra should fully own up and move quickly to address this issue.However, Cestrar and Cotraf should also urgently carry out a survey with a specific focus on the appropriate pay for domestic workers. While it is understandable to suggest that these workers are a special case since their accommodation, meals and medical expenses are catered for by their employers, most of them are ridiculously underpaid. They, too, need to be protected by law, and therefore, it is critical that the labour unions propose a minimum wage for this category of workers as well.John MakubaKigali