Last week, statistics from the Workers’ Trade Union, CESTRAR, indicated that about 80 percent of the cases they are currently handling are connected to illegal dismissals.This is in addition to the numerous cases related to unfair dismissals that have been filed with the Office of the Ombudsman and Public Service Commission.The Ombudsman has, in the past, instruction some institutions to reinstate unfairly dismissed employees.Most employers tend to take advantage of their employees’ ignorance of the law and deny them their rights. They only seek to make maximum profits by exploiting their staff yet they ignore the fact that motivating their personnel would actually result in better performance and hence higher profits.According to the Labour Law, Article 33, termination benefits should be disbursed in accordance with performance, professional qualification, time spent in the company, and social responsibilities of the dismissed person.The recent move by Sorwathe, the country’s largest tea processor and exporter, which became the first Rwandan company to sign a collective bargaining agreement with a workers union should serve as an example to other employers.Every worker should have their right observed regardless of the nature of their job. Domestic workers, who are among the most exploited employees, should as well enjoy their rights as provided by the law.
