It is the right of an employee to receive salary in consideration of the work done, this right cannot be infringed by the Employer in any way without Employee’s consent (Article 66 of Law N° 66/2018 of 30/08/2018 regulating labour in Rwanda). The employer can not in any way undertake salary deductions from an employee without his or her consent. This implies that an employee is supposed to be paid his or her whole salary as stipulated or reflected in his or her employment contract except for deductions mandated for by the laws, consent of the employee or competent authority (Article 73 of Law N° 66/2018 of 30/08/2018 regulating labour in Rwanda).

It is of insight to note that for any punishment to be subjected to the employee, salary deduction is not a better move or option for the employers. Take for instance, if an employee who works in a hotel breaks hotel glasses during his or her day to day work, salary deduction on such employee’s salary is not a better solution except under circumstances where there is mutual agreement between the employee and employer and any deduction made cannot go beyond half of the employee’s salary (Article 73 of Law N° 66/2018 of 30/08/2018 regulating labour in Rwanda).

Under circumstance where the employer illegally deducts the Employee’s salary, the employee is entitled to interests on his or her deducted salary (Article 74 of Law N° 66/2018 of 30/08/2018 regulating labour in Rwanda). In an advisory note, it is advised that, employers need not to adopt salary deduction as a disciplinary method of punishing the employee for any mistake done at work.

Note: Disclaimer on this content should not be taken as legal advice, and MK Associated Advocates will not be held accountable for any legal actions the reader may take referring to this, but rather can reach out for a formal legal advice(s) and legal opinions at our office on the above address and contacts.