EASTERN PROVINCE BUGESERA — In a bid to curtail mistreatment of female workers by their bosses, officials from the Ministry of Public Service and Labour last week met Bugesera district officials. They also met other employers, workers’ representatives, members of women cooperatives and members of other civil society organisations in the district. Eugene Rutabagaya, who led the team, said the meeting was meant to address issues of gender disparity at work. He noted that some workers are mistreated at their work places on account of gender, while some employers maintain different salary scale for their female staff. Other women, he said, are denied maternity leave or those who get it are not paid while on leave. Imagine someone being denied maternity leave or her salary. Every employer here should know that women are human beings who have a right to enjoy their rights like their male counterparts, Rutabagaya said. Citing labour laws No.51/2001 of 30/12/2001 governing workers in the country, he said women are entitled to 12 weeks maternity leave. He urged employers to desist from giving expectant mothers heavy work load and denying those on maternity leave their salary. He stressed that Rwanda is signatory to International labour conventions and challenged employers to observe such laws by paying uniform wages to all staff regardless of gender. Rutabagaya called on all workers to fight for their rights at their respective places of work, and seek government intervention whenever their rights are violated.Ends
