Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Rwanda (Ratification: 1980)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments.

Repetition

The Committee notes the observations of the Congress of Labour and Brotherhood of Rwanda (COTRAF-RWANDA) received on 24 June 2018. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 1(b) and 2 of the Convention. Equal remuneration for work of equal value. Legislation. The Committee recalls that the definition of the expression “work of equal value” which appears in section 1.9 of Law regulating Labour No. 13/2009 of 27 May 2009 refers only to “similar work” and is therefore too narrow to fully implement the principle of the Convention. It also recalls that this law does not contain any substantial provisions prescribing equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value and the Constitution only refers to “the right to equal wage for equal work”. The Committee notes that the Government continues to repeat that, in practice, there is no discrimination between men and women with regard to remuneration, and that full legislative expression will be given to the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value in the ongoing revision process of Law No. 13/2009. The Government also indicates that the revision will also address the linguistic differences between the Kinyarwanda and English versions of section 12. The Committee once again refers to paragraphs 672–679 of its General Survey of 2012 on the fundamental Conventions explaining the meaning of the concept of “work of equal value” which not only covers “equal”, the “same” or “similar” work but also addresses situations where men and women perform different work that is nevertheless of equal value. Noting that no progress has been made in this respect for a number of years, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary steps without delay to amend Law No. 13/2009 of 27 May 2009 regulating Labour, including sections 1.9 and 12, so as to give full legislative effect to the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.