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Written Agreements

Rwanda's Labor Code allows employment contracts to be written or unwritten. However, the duration of an employment contract that is not in writing cannot exceed 90 consecutive days. Also, foreign employees who work in Rwanda must be provided with a written employment contract. The renewal of a fixed-term employment contract must also be in writing.

A written employment contract must contain information on identification of both parties, nature of work, salary and benefits terms, working hours, etc.

Oral Agreements

Rwanda's Labor Code allows employment contracts to be written or unwritten. However, the duration of an employment contract that is not in writing cannot exceed 90 consecutive days.

The Labor Code provides no further guidance on oral contracts. A proof of an employment contract can be established by any means.

Implied Agreements

Rwanda's Labor Code contains no specific references to or provisions regarding implied contracts. Rwanda does recognize and enforce implicit agreements. Unwritten employment contracts are valid and proof of an employment contract can be established by any means.

Rwanda's Labor Code states that the maximum working hours are 40 per week. Employees scheduled to begin work before 9 AM are entitled to flexible working hours.

Employers can request employees to work overtime where:

• The work is urgent, exceptional, or special in nature
• The work is seasonal
• The work is necessary to preserve or increase productivity

The employer determines the daily timetable for employees' work hours and breaks. Private-sector employees are entitled to a daily 1-hour break and a weekly rest of 24 hours.

New Year’s Day (January 1), Day after New Year’s Day (January 2), National Heroes’ Day (February 1), Good Friday (date may vary), Genocide against the Tutsi Memorial Day (April 7), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (July 1), Liberation Day (July 4), Umuganura Day (date may vary), Assumption Day (August 15), Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26), Eid El Fitr (date may vary), Eid Al-Adha (date may vary).

Per Rwanda's Labor Code, the duration of probationary periods cannot exceed 3 months. However, after the employer notifies the employee with a written evaluation of the employee's performance, the employer can decide that an employee must redo the probationary period for a maximum of 3 more months if there are valid reasons related to the nature of the work, the employee's performance, and the employee's conduct.

If the probationary period comes to an end and the employee proves to be competent, the employee must be notified in writing and immediately offered employment. If the probationary period proves that an employee is not competent, the employer must notify the employee through a written performance evaluation. The employer may then terminate the employment contract without notice.

Notice Period

Rwanda's Labor Code states that if it is necessary to terminate a contract of employment with prior notice, the duration of the notice must be at least equal to:

• 15 days, if the employee has worked for less than a year
• 30 days, if the employee has worked for 1 year or more.

No notice period will apply to an employee during a probationary period. When an employment contract is terminated due to gross negligence, the party causing the contract to be terminated must notify the other party within 48 hours.

Severance Benefits

Per Rwanda's Labour Law, the dismissal of an employee who has completed at least 12 consecutive months of work generally entails payment of dismissal benefits by the employer ranging from 2 months' salary for less than 5 years' service to 7 months' salary for over 25 years of service. Benefits are paid to employees who are dismissed for economic, technological or sickness-related reasons. Benefits must be paid within 7 working days of dismissal.

Minimum Wage

Rwanda effectively has no national minimum wage. Rwanda's 2018 Labor Code authorized the Minister of Labor to set a minimum wage through a Ministerial Order, but that has not yet occurred.

Overtime, Holiday & Vacation Pay

Overtime

In Rwanda, overtime hours are hours worked over 40 hours weekly and hours worked over the hours stated in a business's internal rules and regulations or the employment contract if the employee works below 40 hours weekly. Employees who work overtime are entitled to time off equal to the extra hours worked within 30 days from when the overtime was worked. Overtime hours not compensated with a rest period within the 30 days must be compensated with additional pay to appear on the next month's payslip.

Holiday

Work scheduled on an official holiday or weekend is compensated at the employee's regular wage. Employees who work on an official public holiday are entitled to an additional rest day within the next 30 days.

Vacation

Employees must be paid their regular salary during annual leave.

Visas

• Class V-1(s) Single Entry Visa - single entry and shall be valid for a period of not more than 30 days for any purpose other than work
• Class V-1(m) Multiple Entry Visa - multiple entries and shall be valid for a period of not more than 30 days for a purpose other than work or holidays
• Class Q1 Transit Visa - granted to a person transiting Rwanda for a period not exceeding 72 hours
• Class T2 Tourist Visa - granted for tourism, allows stay for up to 90 days
• Class T3 Tourist - Family Visa - granted to foreign nationals who wish to visit a family member or a close relative residing and working in Rwanda
• Class T4 Visiting Diplomat - issued to a diplomat visiting for official purposes, valid for up to 2 years
• Class T6-1: Single Entry - Conference - issued to a person wishing to attend and or speak at a conference, meeting, workshop or seminar, valid for 30 days
• Class T6-2: Multiple Entry - Conference - issued to a person wishing to attend and or speak at a conference, meeting, workshop or seminar, valid for 30 days
• Class T7 Business - issued to a prospective investor, entrepreneur or trader to visit and explore business opportunities in Rwanda, valid for up to 90 days, work is not permitted
• Class T8 Tourist - Medical Treatment - issued to a person who has a need for and has confirmed medical treatment or medical consultations in Rwanda, valid for up to 90 days
• Class T9 Tourist - Group Tourist - issued to a group of four to ten tourists individually or organized by a tour operator, valid for up to 90 days
• Class T12 East African Tourist Visa - issued to foreign nationals who want to visit simultaneously the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda for tourism, valid for up to 90 days

Work Permits

Foreign nationals who seek a visa or a residence permit in Rwanda must prove that they have sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their stay. If a foreigner does not have adequate funds, the Director-General may refuse to grant a visa or a residence permit. A foreign national who intends to reside in Rwanda temporarily may require a guarantor to cover their repatriation costs.

Fees charged on residence permits and visas range from RWF 20,000 (Rwandan francs) to RWF 100,000 depending on the area of professional expertise.