Rwanda: Trade union rights desperately lacking

INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS

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New ICFTU report submitted to the WTO:

Trade union rights desperately lacking in Rwanda

Brussels, 10thMay 2004 (ICFTU Online): Trade union rights are a misnomer
in Rwanda according to a new ICFTU report launched to coincide with the
WTO review on Rwandan trade policy (10th and 12th May). The ICFTU report
on the central African country shows shortcomings in the application of
several core labour conventions which the government itself has ratified
and calls upon the Rwandan authorities to comply with core labour
standards.

The report identifies several legal failings, particularly concerning
the right to strike. For example, strikes are always subject to the
obligatory intervention of a conciliation council before they can take
place, and there is an excessively broad definition of so-called
"essential" services in which strikes are prohibited. Besides these
legal restrictions, the government and many employers are opposed to the
idea of trade unions operating freely. Labour legislation is rarely
enforced due to a lack of inspectors and an insufficient number of
labour courts compounding the workers' rights abuses which Rwandan
workers face.

Child labour is prevalent in Rwanda. Most children work in subsistence
farming, in small companies and on tea plantations. Many children,
mainly war orphans, work as domestic servants. They receive low wages
and abuse is common. Furthermore, there are some 7,000 street children
in Rwanda, whose income is dependent on selling goods, begging and
stealing. School enrolment is low and public schools lack even the most
basic supplies.

Turning to the subject of discrimination, the report notes that women
are mainly employed in subsistence farming and low-wage jobs. Although
government programmes have contributed to progress in eliminating
discrimination against women and ethnic groups, overall opportunities
for employment, education and promotion for women remain limited.

The report highlights the trafficking of women and children for forced
labour and sexual exploitation which is closely linked to instability
and conflict in certain regions. There are also reports of forced coltan
mining by prisoners, as well as other forms of forced labour.

In conclusion, the ICFTU calls upon the government of Rwanda to apply
the core labour conventions that it has indeed ratified and to bring its
legislation into line with International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Conventions. Labour law enforcement must be improved, including better
labour inspection and the establishment of labour courts. Furthermore,
the government must continue to improve the position of women in the
labour market. Efforts to eliminate child labour, particularly domestic
child labour, and to reduce the number of street children should be
sustained. Eliminating the trafficking of women and the practice of
prisoner forced labour should also be a high priority.

To read the full report, go to:
http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991219238

The ICFTU represents 152 million workers in 231 affiliated organisations
in 150 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member of Global
Unions: http://www.global-unions.org

For more information, please contact the ICFTU Press Department on +32 2
224 0232 or +32 476 621 018.