Talent Wiki - Rwanda
Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Rwanda
Capital
Kigali
Currency
Rwandan Franc (RWF)
Languages
Kinyarwanda, French, Swahili, and English
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
$912
Employer Tax
12.8%
Talent Overview
The Republic of Rwanda is a country in East Africa and between the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa. The country has seen significant growth in GDP from 2017 to 2020; there has been significant growth after 2021. The Republic of Rwanda has a score of 57.1, making the country’s economy the 105th freest country in 2022. The country also holds the rank of 16th among 47 countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region in economic development.
Major economic hubs:
Kigali, Butare, Gitarama, Ruhengeri
Skills in demand:
General Managers, HR Professionals, Software engineers
Local Universities
The top local universities in Rwanda are mentioned below with ranks:
University of Rwanda
RANKING
Local: 1
World : 4277
University of Global Health Equity
RANKING
Local: 2
World : 6305
Kibogora Polytechnic
RANKING
Local: 3
World : 8967
Institut d’Enséignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (Ruhengeri Institute of Higher Education)
RANKING
Local: 4
World : 9291
Université Libre de Kigali (Kigali Independent University)
RANKING
Local: 5
World : 9683
Salary Data
Some of the common jobs with the average salary in Rwanda are mentioned below:
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (RWF) | Average Monthly Salary ( USD) |
| Financial Manager | 1,330,000 RWF | 1278.29 USD |
| General Manager | 1,200,000 RWF | 1153.34 USD |
| Business Development Manager | 1,020,000 RWF | 980.34 USD |
| Business Analyst | 855,000 RWF | 821.76 USD |
| Financial Analyst | 842,000 RWF | 809.26 USD |
| Project Manager | 773,000 RWF | 742.95 USD |
Talent Sourcing Tips
Top Local Job Boards:
Number of LinkedIn users:
270,000
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Employing in Rwanda
There are statutory laws to hire an individual from Rwanda. The employer must know about the specific labor laws, leaves, allowances, and bonuses. This section provides all the information for the employer.
Employee Contract
The employment contract must be in one of the official languages of Rwanda—Kinyarwanda, French, Swahili, or English.
Probation Period
The probation period in Rwanda may not exceed more than 6 months.
Public and Provincial Holidays
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year | Public Holiday |
| 2 Jan | Day After New Year’s Day | Public Holiday |
| 3 Jan | New Year observed | Public Holiday |
| 1 Feb | National Heroes’ Day | Public Holiday |
| 7 Apr | Good Friday | Public Holiday |
| 7 Apr | Tutsi Genocide Memorial Day | Public Holiday |
| 10 Apr | Easter Monday | Public Holiday |
| 22 Apr | Eid al-Fitr (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 24 Apr | Eid al-Fitr observed (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 1 May | Labor Day | Public Holiday |
| 29 Jun | Eid al-Adha (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 1 Jul | Independence Day | Public Holiday |
| 3 Jul | Independence Day observed | Public Holiday |
| 4 Jul | Liberation Day | Public Holiday |
| 4 Aug | Umuganura Day | Public Holiday |
| 15 Aug | Assumption of Mary | Public Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Public Holiday |
| 26 Dec | Boxing Day | Public Holiday |
Employee Leaves
| Type of Leave | Time Period | Mandatory |
| Annual/Earned Leave | 18 days | Yes |
| Sick Leave | Up to 180 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 84 days | Yes |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
The payroll cycle in Rwanda is Monthly.
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Rwanda is 100RWF per day.
Overtime Pay
The overtime pay must be 125% of the regular salary in Rwanda.
Bonus
13th Month Pay
Rwanda has no statutory law for 13th-month pay.
Employee Benefits
- Annual Leaves
- Maternity Benefits
- Pension
Taxes
Employer Payroll Tax
| Fund | Contribution |
| Maternity Benefits | 0.3% |
| Medical Benefits | 7.5% |
| Pension Scheme | 3% |
| Occupation Hazard | 2% |
Employee Payroll Tax
| Fund | Contribution |
| Maternity Benefits | 0.3% |
| Medical Benefits | 7.5% |
| Pension Scheme | 3% |
| Community Based Health Insurance | 5% |
Employee Income Tax
| Annual Taxable Income | Tax Income | Tax Rate |
| From 0 to 30,000 RWF | 30,000 RWF | 0 |
| From 30,001 to 100,000 RWF | 70,000 RWF | 20% |
| Above 100,001 RWF | – | 30% |
VAT
Value Added Tax in Rwanda is 18%.
Offboarding & Termination
Both employee and employer can terminate the contract based on legitimate grounds and justified reasons. If the employee is terminated after one year of employment, then they will be provided with a notice allowance.
The notice period in Rwanda should be between 15 days to 30 days.
In Rwanda, the severance pay bracket is as follows;
- For less than 5 years of employment, 1 month of salary.
- For 5 to 10 years of employment, 2 months of salary.
- For 10 to 15 years of employment, 3 months of salary.
- For 15 to 20 years of employment, 4 months of salary.
- For 20 to 25 years of employment, 5 months of salary.
- For more than 25 years of employment, 6 months of salary.
Visa and Immigration
An individual should issue a work permit from the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration to work in the Republic of Rwanda. The individual must present all the documents along with the employment contract. However, an employee must apply for a work permit within 15 days if the employee holds the employment contract for more than 90 days.
