Dar es Salaam (ILO News): ILO committed to assist the Government of Rwanda in its effort to strengthen its collective bargaining. During a one-day workshop, which was held on 14 December 2016 in Kigali, ILO applauded the achievement of the country in signing the Code of Conduct on Collective Bargaining.
The workshop which was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA), Employers, Private Sector Federation (PSF) and Workers, Centrale des Syndicats des Travailleurs au Rwanda (CESTRAR), Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Rwanda (COSYLI) and The Congress of Labour and Fraternity in Rwanda (COTRAF) was officially opened by the Director of Labour Administration, MIFOTRA, Mr. Alexander Twahirwa. In his remarks Mr. Twahirwa reaffirmed to participants the government’s efforts to strengthen labour relations in Rwanda.
In her remarks, the ILO Director for Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, Dr. Mary Kawar stated that the ILO is proud of the collaboration with the tripartite partners in Rwanda and the many achievements made so far in improving collective bargaining in the country. “…We applaud the Government and the partners for these achievements, including the signing of a Code of Conduct on Collective Bargaining and an Agreement in the Tea Sector which was signed in 2015…it’s also gratifying to learn about the government’s intention to ratify six conventions related to Social Dialogue…”.
Participants also revisited the collective bargaining work plan developed in 2014 where specific activities to strengthen CB were identified and an implementation plan developed. Amongst the key activities to be undertaken is training the Mining Sector on CB, creating awareness and sensitisation of employers on the benefits of CB and building the capacity of workers to equip them with skills on CB.
In the past biennium ILO worked with SPSF, Rwanda, to develop new and improved services to meet the needs of its membership especially in industrial relations and labour law related services. The ILO also provided technical support in enhancing the SPSF’s capacity to engage in collective bargaining and social dialogue in order for it to be used as a conduit through which employers’ concerns can be integrated into the national development processes. Also to further deepen social dialogue with workers’ organizations, the government and other non-state actors. The ILO continues to collaborate with SPSF in enhancing its capacity to carry out its role as representatives of employers in line with C87 which Rwanda has ratified.
