As the world marked Labour day yesterday, Rwandan workers’ trade union made a fresh appeal for the government to expedite establishing a new minimum wage.
“There is need to fast track the set up of the minimum wage which is commensurate with affecting the cost of living”, says the Rwanda Workers’ Trade Union Confederation in a statement.
A new minimum wage is critical in reducing high-income inequalities, the statement said.
Rwanda’s current minimum wage was set in the 1980s at 100 Rwandan francs per day. Labour unions argue that it is out-dated and not in line with the current cost of living.
Under the theme “Quality Work, A Catalyst for Sustainable Development”, the national Labour Day celebrations in Rwanda were marked in Nyagatare district in eastern Rwanda together with centenary celebrations of the International Labour Organization.
“Quality work is important across all sectors of work including agriculture, livestock farming, education, and business” -says Fanfan Rwanyindo, Rwandan minister of public service and labour, at the celebrations.
Rwanyindo called for collective efforts to enable the government meet its target of creating 1.5 million decent jobs under its seven-year program from the end of 2017 to 2024.
