Rwanda Workers’ Trade Union Confederation - CESTRAR

CESTRAR (Rwanda Workers’ Trade Union Confederation) is the most influential National Centre in Rwanda with 16 affiliated Rwandan trade unions, with a progressive membership of more than 185,700 workers in different sectors. Historically CESTRAR is the oldest and most representative National Centre in Rwanda and was created in 1985 through the recognition of democracy and freedom of association in Rwanda. In 1992 CESTRAR acquired its legal existence but only two years later in a situation where workers had not yet learnt the value of free and independent trade unions, the 1994 Genocide of Tutsi highlighted the precarious state of trade unionism through the loss of numerous trade union leaders and supporters, the destruction and plunder of trade union properties.