Employment Contract

Employment Contracts in Rwanda

Employment relationships in Rwanda are governed by Law N° 66/2018 of 30/08/2018 regulating labour, which replaced Law N° 13/2009.

Written Contract Requirement

Employers are required to formalize employment relationships through written contracts. Contracts must include:

Identity of employer and employee

Job title and description

Duration (fixed-term or indefinite)

Place of work

Working hours and conditions

Remuneration and payment terms

Notice period for termination

Types of Employment Contracts

1. Indefinite Term Contract

No specified end date

Standard employment relationship

2. Fixed-Term Contract

Can be renewed as many times as agreed

No statutory limitation on maximum duration of successive contracts

No requirement for valid reason to use fixed-term

3. Part-Time Contract

Less than standard hours

Pro-rata benefits

Probation Period

- Maximum 6 months

Either party can terminate with notice

Working Hours & Conditions

Standard Hours:

Maximum 45 hours/week

Maximum 8 hours/day

Overtime compensated at higher rate

Leave Entitlements:

Annual leave: 18 working days after 1 year continuous service

Sick leave: Up to 6 months (partial pay)

Maternity leave: 12 weeks (paid)

Paternity leave: 4 days

Minimum Wage

Rwanda does not have a national minimum wage set across all sectors. The 1974 rate is obsolete. Wages are set by:

Sector-specific agreements

Collective bargaining

Mining: ~RWF 1,500+ per day

Construction/tea: RWF 500-5,000 per day

Child Labor

Minimum age for employment: 16 years Exception: Children aged 13-15 may perform light work in apprenticeship context.

Disciplinary Measures

Employers can suspend employees in writing for up to 30 days without pay. Salary is retained and repaid if employee proves innocence.