Hiring employees is one of the most important tasks of an expansion. You’ll need to find talented candidates to help grow your new location and meet Rwanda’s employment compliance laws every step of the way.
As a global Employer of Record (EOR), we can simplify the process by hiring employees on your behalf, so you can operate without additional stress or hassles.
Recruiting in Rwanda
Recruiting on your own can be a challenge if your business doesn’t have an established presence in the country. Many companies source talent through word of mouth and personal recommendations. For this reason, it can be helpful to work with a global EOR that has a robust entity infrastructure and understands local hiring customs.
Laws against discrimination in Rwanda
Companies should also be aware of the legal obligations for employers in Rwanda. Under the Rwandan constitution, all Rwandans are equal in rights and freedoms. Employers cannot discriminate based on any of a wide range of characteristics, including:
- Language
- Ancestry
- Religion
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Economic status
- Physical or mental disability
- Cultural differences
- Political opinion
It’s important to make sure your company complies with these regulations throughout the recruiting process. To do so, you should be mindful of the language you use in job advertisements as well as the questions you ask potential hires in interviews and casual conversations.
How to hire employees in Rwanda
You must hire employees in Rwanda under a written employment contract in the local language. You can either use a fixed-term or indefinite-term contract, but it should outline compensation, benefits, termination requirements, and more. All salary and compensation amounts in both your employment contract and offer letter should be in Rwandan francs instead of another currency.
Rwanda employment laws
You also need to ensure that you meet Rwanda’s employment compliance laws during an employee’s tenure, including working hours. Employees typically work 40 hours a week, and anything beyond that amount of time is considered overtime. You need to provide overtime pay at the government’s rate or according to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) if applicable.
Although CBAs are not extremely common in Rwanda, you should check to see if employees are covered by one before drafting an employment contract. CBAs can dictate separate Rwanda employment compliance laws for certain industries or types of workers, and you will have to follow those regulations to avoid fines, delays, and other issues.
Onboarding in Rwanda
Companies can choose the best way to onboard employees, but there are certain steps you can take to make employees more comfortable and confident. Start by going over the employment contract with employees during their first day and take some time to review other company policies such as dress code, working hours, and similar factors. You should also take time to provide any job training that will prepare employees for their new position.
Grow globally with G-P.
G-P never forgets that behind every hire is a human being. That’s why we’ve backed our fully customizable suite of global employment products with our robust team of HR and legal experts, so we can remain at your side, ready to support you as you build your global teams. With the #1 Global Growth Platform, you have the recruitment tools and services you need to find your perfect full-time or contract match.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you recruit, hire, and onboard anyone, anywhere.