Document text
Terminal benefits and final dues
Rwanda — Law N° 66/2018 regulating labour, Articles 24–34 and 49: what your employer owes you and a letter to claim it
Details
Item Details
Employee [EMPLOYEE NAME]
Position [POSITION]
Employer [EMPLOYER]
Employed from [START DATE]
Last day [LAST DAY]
Reason for termination [REASON FOR TERMINATION]
Average monthly salary (last 12 months) RWF [AVERAGE MONTHLY SALARY]
Calculation
Item Amount
Years of service [YEARS]
Average monthly salary × [2–7] (Art. 31) RWF [AVERAGE MONTHLY SALARY] × [2–7]
Terminal benefit RWF [TERMINAL BENEFIT]
Notice not given or cut short — one month of salary (Art. 24–25) RWF [NOTICE COMPENSATION]
Untaken annual leave — [DAYS] days × salary ÷ 22 (Art. 49) RWF [LEAVE COMPENSATION]
Total to claim RWF [TOTAL]
Letter to the employer — claim for terminal benefits and final dues
[EMPLOYEE NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[NAME AND TITLE OF THE EMPLOYER’S REPRESENTATIVE]
[EMPLOYER]
[PLACE, DATE]
Claim for terminal benefits and final dues
Dear Sir or Madam,
My employment with [EMPLOYER] as [POSITION] ended on [LAST DAY], after service from [START DATE]. The reason given is: [REASON FOR TERMINATION].
Under Article 31 of Law N° 66/2018 regulating labour in Rwanda, I am entitled to terminal benefits of at least [2–7] times my average monthly salary of RWF [AVERAGE MONTHLY SALARY], that is RWF [TERMINAL BENEFIT]. As the notice period was not observed, I also claim compensation of RWF [NOTICE COMPENSATION] (Articles 24 and 25). For [DAYS] days of annual leave not taken, I claim RWF [LEAVE COMPENSATION] (Article 49). I therefore claim a total of RWF [TOTAL], as set out in the attached calculation.
Article 31 requires terminal benefits to be paid within seven (7) working days of the dismissal. I would also be grateful to receive my certificate of rendered services and final pay statement (Article 34).
I remain available to discuss this calculation.
Yours faithfully,
[EMPLOYEE NAME]
Signature: ________________________________ Date: ____/____/________
What the law says
Notice: at least 15 days if you served less than one year, at least 30 days if more than one year — in writing, with the reasons (Art. 24). During the employer’s notice you may be absent one day a week to look for work.
Termination without notice, or without the full notice period: the party responsible pays compensation (Art. 25).
Gross misconduct: dismissal without notice, notified in writing within 48 hours with the reasons (Art. 26). No terminal benefit under Art. 31.
Unfair dismissal: damages of 3 to 6 months’ salary, up to 9 months’ net salary after more than 10 years with the same employer (Art. 30) — decided by agreement or in court.
Terminal benefits for economic reasons, technological transfer or sickness after 12 consecutive months: at least 2× the average monthly salary under 5 years of service; 3× for 5–10 years; 4× for 10–15; 5× for 15–20; 6× for 20–25; 7× over 25 years (Art. 31).
Average monthly salary = salary received in the last 12 months ÷ 12, without allowances given to enable you to do the work. Payment within 7 working days (Art. 31).
Retirement benefits are calculated the same way and are not added to terminal benefits (Art. 32).
Annual leave: 1.5 working days per month; leave not taken when the contract ends is paid as compensation, even before 12 months of work (Art. 46, 49).
Checklist
☐ Termination letter with the reason and the date
☐ Payslips or bank statements for the last 12 months
☐ Contract and any collective agreement (may give more)
☐ Leave record: days taken and days left
☐ Certificate of rendered services and final pay statement (Art. 34)
A calculation, not legal advice. Contracts and collective agreements may give more than the minimum in Law N° 66/2018. Tax on these amounts is not shown. If you disagree with your employer, ask the labour inspector of your district for help.