International Labour Organization supports better working conditions in the construction sector

KIGALI (ILO News) - Construction is a fast-growing and largely urban economic sector in Rwanda, employing 360,000 workers, of whom the majority are informal and prone to health and safety hazards and lacking protection. In this context, the Rwanda building code is one entry point to promote, disseminate and reiterate national legislation to safeguard public health, safety and general welfare applying to construction sites.

Occupational Safety and Health provisions

With regard to occupational safety and health, the ILO provided technical support in revising the building code to align it with international standards on the prevention of major risks such as harassment and sexual discrimination, exposure to hazardous materials, ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment as well as access to training. The revised Building Code also foresees the appointment of health and safety officers to coordinate health and safety issues on construction sites.

Access to social protection and welfare of workers

On access to social protection, the building code now emphasises the obligation for all workers on jobsites to have social security coverage, regardless of nationality, type or duration of contract or salary level. This inclusion will help raise awareness on the obligation to cover casual workers, who make up the bulk of the workforce on construction sites, and grants them the same labour rights and social security rights as formal workers.

Moreover, the code is now better aligned with labour law, as it reiterates a number of legal obligations, such as the requirement that all workers receive their wages on time or the obligation to have adequate rest periods and breaks.

An integrated and more comprehensive inspection in the construction sector

When it comes to the enforcement of labour standards, Rwanda ratified ILO convention 81 in 1980, which defines the responsibilities of the labour inspection. The Rwanda Social Security Board also has an inspection unit which focuses on compliance with social security and OSH regulation while the Rwanda Building Code (2019) outlines provisions for the supervision and inspection of building activities, ensuring compliance with building safety requirements and standards in respect of building inspection guideline (2012) provisions. To ensure greater compliance with labour law and coherence between the different authorities, the ILO, Rwanda Housing Authority, Ministry of Labour and Rwanda Social Security Board have explored the possibility of strengthening cooperation between their respective inspection departments.

The ILO also supported RHA in identifying a simplified and more comprehensive inspection checklist, which includes general questions on working conditions (i.e., are there occupational health examination? Are PPE provided to workers? Are workers registered in the social security scheme? Do workers have contracts and how are they paid?).

Next steps

The changes were approved at a legal tools’ validation workshop organised by the RHA from 10 to 13 June 2024. Next steps will be to discuss the revised Building Code for adoption and publication in the Official Gazette in order to become an official legal tool in the Construction and Housing Industry.