Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118) - Rwanda (Ratification: 1989)

The Committee takes note of the Government's first report. It would be grateful if the Government would provide detailed information on the following points in its next report:

Article 5 of the Convention (in conjunction with Article 10). The Committee notes that under section 44 of the Legislative Decree of 22 August 1974 organizing social security, as amended by Act No. 32/1988 of 12 October 1988, benefits are suspended when the beneficiary does not reside in the national territory, except in the case of reciprocity agreements or international conventions. It asks the Government to state whether Convention No. 118 is considered as an international convention within the meaning of this section of the Legislative Decree. In this connection, the Committee would like to remind the Government that by ratifying the present Convention and accepting its obligations in respect of branches (d), (e), (f) and (g), the Government undertook to guarantee, in the event of residence abroad, the provision of invalidity benefits, old age benefits, survivor's benefits and death grants, and employment injury pensions, both to its own nationals and to the nationals of any other Member which has accepted the obligations of the Convention in respect of the branches in question, as well as to refugees and stateless persons, without any condition of reciprocity and whatever the beneficiary's country of residence, even in the absence of bilateral or multilateral social security agreements.

Articles 7 and 8. The Committee notes that according to section 56 of the above-mentioned Legislative Decree, the conclusion of reciprocity agreements or conventions shall be sought with States in which nationals of Rwanda are employed or whose nationals are engaged in occupational activities in Rwanda. It notes in this connection that Rwanda is a party to the general social security convention of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL), concluded in 1978 with Burundi and Zaire. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information in its future reports on any new agreement concluded with States that have accepted the obligations of the present Convention in respect of the relevant branches with a view to the maintenance of acquired rights or rights in the course of acquisition.