====== Rwanda ====== **Region:** Eastern Africa **Regional Economic Communities (REC):** COMESA · EAC · ECCAS → [[https://iiag.online/locations/rw.html|View IIAG Country Statistics]] ---- ^ Indicator ^ Data ^ | **Governance (IIAG)** | Overall Governance score: 58.7 / 100 · Rank: 14th / 54 | ---- ===== PART 1 – HIGH-LEVEL COUNTRY MAPPING ===== ==== Institutions and Stakeholder Database ==== (To be linked) ---- ==== REC Membership ==== * COMESA * EAC * ECCAS ---- ==== Population size and size of the informal economy ==== Rwanda’s population is estimated at approximately **14.6 million** (2025). The informal economy accounts for approximately **28.9% of GDP**, estimated at **USD 14 billion (PPP)**. ---- ==== Nature of the legal system and ILO status ==== Rwanda has a **hybrid legal system**, combining: * Civil law traditions (German and Belgian origins) * Common law influences (including the use of precedent) Rwanda has been a member of the **International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1962**. The country implements a **Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP)** aligned with national development strategies, focusing on: * Employment creation * Social protection * Social dialogue * Fundamental rights at work ---- ==== Workers’ rights in human rights system, national labour law / social protection and scope of protection ==== **Constitution of 2003** * Guarantees the right to form trade unions (Art. 38), subject to the existence of an employment relationship **Ejo Heza Long-Term Savings Scheme (Act No. 29/2017)** * Covers informal and self-employed workers * Provides benefits for: * Old age * Disability * Death Key features: * Flexible contribution system (based on capacity) * Government co-contributions (incentive-based) * Partial withdrawal allowed for: * Housing * Education * Loan collateral **Regulatory note:** Rwanda demonstrates a **highly innovative model of informal economy inclusion** through flexible, incentive-based social protection. ---- ==== Existing laws, policy and regulatory initiatives for the protection of workers in the informal economy ==== **Community-Based Health Insurance Scheme** * Covers self-employed and informal workers * Funded through: * Public and private sector contributions * Service fees (e.g. telecoms, vehicle inspections, gaming services) **Regulatory note:** Strong integration of informal workers into national health and social protection systems. ---- ===== PART 2 – SECTOR SPECIFIC REGULATION ===== ---- ==== Domestic Work Sector ==== **Law No. 66/2018 of 30/08/2018 (Labour Law)** * Regulates domestic work relationships * Establishes: * Minimum age (16 years; light work permitted from 13 under conditions) * Employment contracts * Wages and working conditions * Health and safety standards **Regulatory note:** Domestic work is explicitly regulated within general labour law. ---- ==== Street Vendor ==== Street vending is regulated through **licensing, food safety, and public health frameworks**. Key laws: * **Law No. 003/2018 (Rwanda FDA)** * **Law No. 47/2012 (Food and Pharmaceutical Products Regulation)** Requirements: * Business licensing * Health permits * Compliance with food safety standards Street vendors are classified as **retail food operators**, alongside restaurants and food outlets. **Regulatory note:** Strong emphasis on **public health regulation and formalisation**. ---- ==== Waste Reclaiming ==== **Act No. 48/2018 (Environment Law)** * Regulates: * Liquid waste (Art. 17) * Solid waste (Art. 18) * Hazardous waste (Art. 19) * Electronic waste (Art. 20) Key principles: * Mandatory waste sorting and disposal * Licensing requirements * Environmental protection obligations **Regulation No. 002/2018 (E-Waste Management)** * Requires licensing for all actors in the e-waste chain **Regulatory note:** Strong environmental governance framework with indirect regulation of informal waste actors. ---- ==== Home working ==== Rwanda does not have a dedicated remote work law but provides **functional flexibility mechanisms**. **Law No. 66/2018 (Labour Law)** **Ministerial Order No. 01/MIFOTRA/23 of 13/06/2023** * Introduces “flexible working hours” * Allows remote work under defined conditions Key features: * Flexible working hour between **08:00–09:00** * Weekly working hours: **40 hours** * Employer discretion over schedules **Regulatory note:** Partial recognition of remote work within broader labour regulation. ---- ==== Gig Work and the Platform Economy ==== Rwanda integrates gig workers through **social protection legislation**. Key laws: * **Act No. 06/2003 (Social Security)** * **Act No. 05/2015 (Pension Schemes)** * **Act No. 48/2015 (Health Insurance)** Provisions: * Voluntary or mandatory inclusion of self-employed workers * Pension access for informal workers * Health insurance coverage **Regulatory note:** Strong inclusion of gig workers via **universalised social protection frameworks**. ---- ==== Farm Work ==== **Law No. 66/2018 (Labour Law)** **National Employment Policy (2007)** **National Strategy for Transformation (NST1)** **National Agriculture Policy (2017)** **PSTA 4 (2018–2024)** Focus areas: * Employment creation * Agricultural productivity * Youth inclusion **Regulatory note:** Farm work is integrated into national development planning rather than sector-specific labour regulation. ---- ==== Mining Sector and Artisanal Mining ==== **Law No. 58/2018 (Mining and Quarry Law)** * Regulates: * Exploration * Extraction * Processing * Trade Institution: * **Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB)** Extensive secondary regulations govern: * Licensing * Environmental compliance * Anti-money laundering * Mineral trading **Regulatory note:** Highly formalised regulatory regime with strong institutional oversight. ---- ==== Taxi and Transport Sector (Gig-work/platform economy overlap) ==== Regulated by: * **Law No. 39/2001 (RURA Act)** * **Passenger Road Transport Regulations No. 007/2015** Oversight: * Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) Key features: * Licensing and operational standards * Coverage of taxis, buses, motorcycles and cross-border transport Emerging regulation: * Proposed platform transport law (PL 1471/22) * Focus on: * Social security * Fair remuneration * Worker classification **Regulatory note:** Rwanda is actively transitioning toward **formal regulation of platform transport work**. ---- ==== Cross-Border Informal Trade ==== Rwanda adopts a **facilitative regulatory approach**. Key features: * Recognition of informal cross-border trade (ICBT) * Focus on: * Small-scale traders * Women traders * Border communities Policy objectives: * Simplify trade procedures * Improve compliance * Enhance revenue collection **Regulatory note:** Balanced approach combining facilitation and regulation. ---- ===== Sources / Links ===== * IIAG – Rwanda: https://iiag.online/locations/rw.html * Rwanda Labour Law (Law No. 66/2018) * Ejo Heza Scheme (Act No. 29/2017) * Rwanda Environment Law (Act No. 48/2018) * RURA Regulations (2015)