Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente addressed concerns raised by members of parliament regarding the working conditions of employees in some industries, particularly those based in the Kigali Special Economic Zone.
During his presentation to both chambers of Parliament on Thursday, June 19, on the government’s achievements in improving citizens’ welfare across key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, health, and education, the Prime Minister responded to claims that some workers in established factories are underpaid and employed without contracts.
Dr Ngirente emphasised that measures are in place to protect workers’ rights and ensure investor compliance before industries begin operations.
“Before granting them permission to operate, they have to provide the number of people they intend to employ and ensure they offer decent jobs,” said the Prime Minister.
He acknowledged that some factories have faced sanctions for failing to meet required standards, including cases where salaries offered were below the poverty line.
“There are those we stopped after finding out they gave salaries below the poverty line. We also have minor cases where some cheat when setting up industries, but we have to continue monitoring,” he added.
The concerns came after a deputy pointed out that while youth employment has increased from 44% in 2017 to 53% in 2025, there are still challenges regarding workers’ rights and conditions in these industries. The deputy noted that some employees work under difficult conditions, with unclear roles and no formal contracts.
“We appreciate the level of industrial development in the country, but the occupational health and safety of the workers must also be prioritised,” said Deputy Rutebuka Balinda.
“There are industries, especially in the Kigali Special Economic Zone, where workers have no contracts, no insurance, and work overtime without pay. These conditions may negatively affect their wellbeing.”
In addition to the concerns about industrial labour, the Prime Minister also addressed issues raised about the quality of education. Deputies expressed concern over teachers delivering lessons in English without sufficient language proficiency, which they said could undermine learning outcomes.
“The Government of Rwanda is preparing a program to assess whether teachers in primary and secondary schools are proficient in English, the language of instruction. Any teacher found not to meet the required level will be removed from their position,” Dr Ngirente said.
However, he clarified that the process would follow extensive training opportunities. Only after such support is offered would non-proficient teachers face dismissal.
Lawmakers restated the importance of protecting workers’ rights despite the positive impact industries have on the national economy.
The Labor Code in Rwanda states that an employer is required to maintain health and safety standards at the workplace. An employer is required to maintain a common state of cleanliness and presentation of hygiene at all times. Moreover, workers must be provided with first aid kits, required tools for work, and assurance of protection in the case of any unforeseen circumstance related to the workplace, which most of these do not seem to exercise.
The Prime Minister also highlighted progress in reducing poverty, noting that more than 1.5 million people were lifted out of poverty in the past seven years, averaging 214,000 per year. He referenced findings from the Seventh Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV 7), published by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) on April 16, which showed a drop in the national poverty rate from 39.8% in 2017 to 27.4% in 2024 — a decline of 12.4 percentage points.
