Rwanda Moves to Establish a Social Protection System for Informal Workers

The Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) has announced plans to review existing laws and regulations to enable workers in the informal sector to benefit from social security schemes, including pension and health insurance.

Today, many informal workers in Rwanda earn daily or irregular incomes without knowing where their money ultimately goes, unlike public or private employees who enjoy guaranteed social benefits for retirement or health coverage.

According to MIFOTRA, over 90% of Rwanda’s workforce operates in the informal economy and lacks access to organized saving or insurance mechanisms.

As of June 2025, more than 852,000 workers were registered and contributing to pension and employment injury insurance, while about 838,000 were covered under maternity leave benefits, and 748,000 were registered in the RAMA health insurance scheme.

In addition, the Ejo Heza Long-Term Savings Scheme had reached 3.7 million members by mid-2025.

During a session with the Senate Committee on Social Affairs and Human Rights on October 20, 2025, Minister Christine Nkulikiyinka said the government is working with the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) to include informal workers in social protection systems.

“We are engaging with RSSB to ensure that informal workers who make up about 90% of the national workforce can also save for retirement, access health insurance, and enjoy maternity benefits like other employees,” she said. “Every Rwandan with a job should have a form of social protection to rely on when they are no longer able to work.”

The minister also revealed that Rwanda plans to digitalize the registration process, so employers can easily register workers online without visiting RSSB offices. The government is also considering relaxing current requirements, such as the rule that a company must employ at least seven people to qualify.

“We want to make it easier for anyone willing and able to join RSSB to do so without facing unnecessary hurdles,” Nkulikiyinka added.

She noted that the legal reforms are expected to be completed by the end of 2026, eliminating all barriers preventing informal workers from accessing social protection.

Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) released in May 2025 shows that among 8.5 million Rwandans aged 16 and above, 4.5 million are employed, while around 710,000 are unemployed. Meanwhile, 3.2 million people mainly students and the elderly are outside the labor force.