The Secretary General of the Rwanda Extractive Industry Workers Union (REWU) has welcomed the Cabinet Resolution which decided that official working hours will be eight hours from 9:00am to 5:00pm (excluding a one-hour lunch break), and including a flexible hour between 8:00am 9:00am.
Employees will now be working eight hours a day, down from nine currently – and a combined 40 hours a week (instead of 45).
Speaking to the New Times, Eng. Andre Mutsindashyaka, the Secretary General of the Rwanda Extractive Industry Workers Union (REWU) welcomed the adjusted hours from 45 to 40 hours per week.
“The adjustment is timely because when an employee spends so many hours at work, they are not productive as they become exhausted from overwhelming work. Reducing the working hours will increase productivity at work,” he said.
“Employee becomes productive when employers cater to them through enabling working conditions, satisfactory wage to afford basic needs, and saving among others,” he argued
In 2019 before the Covid-19 outbreak, the mining sector employed about 71,205 workers, an increase from 47, 727 workers in 2017, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
“The 40 hours were established after realizing that both employers and employees can benefit from the 40 hours per week and be productive,” he noted.
He said that in developed countries working hours have been reduced to 35 per week.
“The 40 hours per week which will be enforced in January next year is good news and requires responsible workers. The workers will also get time to cater to their families,” he added.