"Businesses to face punitive measures if found engaging in child labour", 8 Jan. 2019

Figures show that at least 146,386 children are employed in worst forms of child labor and hazardous works across [Rwanda], mainly…in activities such as tea and coffee, fishing, agriculture, construction, mining, marshlands, restaurants and bars as well as transport.

[A] warning was issued during the recent dialogue that convened the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Rwanda Mining and Petroleum Board, National Children Council, the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Private Sector Federation, National Agricultural Export Development Board, the Ministry of Labor, CLADHO-the umbrella of civil societies fighting for human rights in Rwanda among many others…

All businesses are expected to provide decent work to workers but many institutions especially private ones do not issue work contracts to them as well as other benefits such as insurance while others work them long hours, the assessment found out…

Faustin Nsanzimana, the Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Trade and Industry stressed that punitive measures must be enforced against businesses that violate children’s rights…