On February 15, 2011, in Kigali, Rwanda more than 500 workers at the UTEXRWA textile factory began a five-day long strike in protest of unfair working conditions that started when new management came into power.
The strikers were protesting low wages of RWF15,800 a month, lack of annual leave, non-paid overtime hours, and poor working and health conditions.
The factory produces garments made of cotton, synthetic, and other blended fabrics to make protective clothing for uniforms including firefighting, medical, and other workforces.
The law states that a work week consists of forty-five hours and that employees are entitled to eighteen to twenty-one days annually for paid leave.
Strikers prepared speeches that they presented to the manager of UTEXRWA Trivets Deepak, in order to voice their concerns about the companies’ actions.
The textile strikers were a part of the Central Union of Rwanda workers and received permission to strike through the Ministry of Public Service and Labour.
They conducted public speeches targeted to the Gasabo District Executive Secretary Ibrahim Ndagijimana, and the manager of the factory, Trivets Deepak.
District officials came to mediate the strike and the General Secretary of the Congress of Labour Fraternity in Rwanda (COTRAF), Francois Mtakiyimana, came to show support for the strikers.
The strikers were able to persuade the manager to give the thirty-three dismissed employees their jobs back, but failed to succeed in any other initial goals of the strike.