Freedom of Association
Database 2024

Freedom of Association
Indicator
Freedom of Association
Countries
LRI 2024
heatmap

Rwanda

Freedom of Association Indicator

The Labour Rights Index 2024 (LRI 2024) is a de-jure index covering 145 economies and structured around the working lifespan of a worker. In total, 46 questions or evaluation criteria are scored across 10 indicators. The overall score is calculated by taking the average of each indicator, with 100 being the highest possible score. The Index uses a rating system, ranging from “Total Lack of Decent Work” to “Decent Work”. The Labour Rights Index aims at an active contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, by providing necessary (complementary) insights into de jure provisions on issues covered in particular by SDG8 (Decent Jobs), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Strong Institutions). The Index is based on national labour legislation, applicable on 1 January 2024.

Rwanda’s overall score is 70 out of 100. The overall score for Rwanda is greater than the regional average observed across Sub-Saharan Africa (66). Within the Sub-Saharan Africa region, the highest score is observed for Côte d’Ivoire (84.5).

Rwanda ratified Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) in 1988 and Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) in 1988.

Labour Rights Index 2024

70/100

LRI Country Score

75/100

Freedom of Association Indicator

5.86 %

Trade union density rate (%)

5.7 %

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)

1.28

SDG indicator 8.8.2

3

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings

Question

Answer

Score

Legal Basis

More Info

Does the law allow workers to form and join unions of their own choice?

Yes

1

§31, Constitution 2003; §10 & 83-90, Labour Law N° 66/2018

Does the law allow workers to bargain collectively with employers through their representative unions?

No

0

§32, Constitution 2003; §91-101, Labour Law N° 66/2018; CEACR, C98, Direct Request. 2022

A,B

Does the law provide for the right to strike?

Yes

1

§33, Constitution 2003; Ministerial Order Nº 004/19.20 of 17/03/2020

A

Does the law prohibit imposing of excessive sanctions against striking workers?

Yes

1

§107, Labour Law N° 66/2018

Textual sources

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

B : CEACR

CEACR: ILO Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations (latest report)

C : ITUC

ITUC: ITUC Global Rights Index

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

LRI Country Score
The Labour Rights Index has 10 indicators and 46 sub-indicators. The LRI Country score averages 10 indicators and ranges between 0 and 100. The lowest and highest scorers are Nigeria (29/100) and Belgium/Greece (96/100). https://labourrightsindex.org/  

Freedom of Association Indicator
The Freedom of Association indicator is composed of 4 sub-indicators. Scoring is done through the binary method (0 or 1). The score ranges between 0-100. 

Trade union density rate (%)
The trade union density rate conveys the number of union members who are employees as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on trade union density, please check ILOSTAT. 

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)
The collective bargaining coverage rate conveys the number of employees whose pay and/or conditions of employment are determined by one or more collective agreement(s) as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on collective bargaining coverage, please check ILOSTAT. 

SDG indicator 8.8.2
SDG indicator 8.8.2 measures national compliance with fundamental labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining or FACB). It ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 being the best possible score (indicating higher levels of compliance with FACB rights) and 10 the worst (indicating lower levels of compliance with FACB rights). It is based on six ILO supervisory body textual sources and national legislation.
For an updated assessment on SDG indicator 8.8.2, please check ILOSTAT. 

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings
The ITUC Global Rights Index depicts the world’s worst countries for workers by rating 148 countries on a scale from 1 to 5+ on the degree of respect for workers’ rights. Violations are recorded each year from April to March.  For a detailed description of ratings and methodology, please follow the link. 

Information

Source: §31, Constitution 2003; §10 & 83-90, Labour Law N° 66/2018

Information

Source: §32, Constitution 2003; §91-101, Labour Law N° 66/2018; CEACR, C98, Direct Request. 2022

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

" Art 93: .......... If in an enterprise there are several employees’ organisations they team up to carry on collective negotiations. However, if they fail to team up, the employees’ organisation representing the majority of employees in an enterprise carries on the collective negotiations on behalf of other employees’ organisations ..............."

B : CEACR

CEACR: ILO Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations

"Article 4. Promotion of collective bargaining. Recognition of organizations for the purposes of collective bargaining. The Committee once again requests the Government to clarify the meaning of section 93 when it refers to the majority organization (organization that would represent more than 50 per cent of workers or the most representative organization)."

Information

Source: §33, Constitution 2003; Ministerial Order Nº 004/19.20 of 17/03/2020

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

""Article 2: Essential services related to the right to life, health and communication Strike or lock-out must not interrupt or stop the following services: 1° medical services; 2° water distribution; 3° electricity distribution; 4° business services and activities related to the purchase of basic food stuffs; 5° services and activities related to the collection and transport of waste; 6° transmission and telecommunication services like radio and television, internet and other means of communication and distribution of information for public interest. " "Article 3: Essential services related to freedom of movement of people, rescue and education Strike or lock-out must not interrupt or stop the following services related to freedom of movement of people, rescue and education: 1° transportation; 2° supply, distribution and selling of fuel or any other petroleum product used by vehicles , ships and airplanes; 3° activities carried out at airports and those connected to air traffic control; 4° emergency services and relief activities carried out by humanitarian organisations or associations involved in humanitarian activities; 5° services and activities related to fire extinguishing; 6° education services. " Article 4: Essential services for which strike or lock-out is prohibited Security services cannot strike or be locked out. "

Information

Source: §107, Labour Law N° 66/2018