Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Rwanda (Ratification: 1962)

Article 1(a), (c) and (d) of the Convention. Prison sentences involving compulsory labour imposed as a punishment for expressing political views, as a means of labour discipline and as punishment for participating in strikes. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that section 29 of Act No. 38/2006 of 25 September 2006 to create and organize the national prison service provides that prisoners are entitled to perform an activity related to their occupational skills. Moreover, section 40 provides that the prisoner may be asked, or express the wish to perform work, but may not be forced to do so.

The Government indicates in its report that the Penal Code and the Code of Penal Procedure will soon be harmonized, particularly since the Penal Code is currently being amended. The Government adds that the consent of prisoners to perform work is given orally and that prisoners who perform work which generates income receive payment amounting to 10 per cent of the total product of the work performed. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the progress achieved in the adoption of appropriate measures to harmonize the provisions of the Penal Code and the Code of Penal Procedure with those of section 40 of the Act of 2006 to create and organize the national prison service. Please also provide information on the effect given in practice to this legislation.