Local insurance companies have filed a public litigation case at Supreme Court in which they contest the lack of minimum wage, arguing that such a situation is against public interests as well as threatens the profitability of the insurers.

The case came up for mention on Tuesday, May 19 and the insurance companies fault government for failure to set a minimum wage as prescribed by the law, for which it should be held answerable.

Two lawyers representing ASSAR in the case, Emmanuel Butare and Claudine Umugwaneza, argue that lack of minimum wage has existed for years and that the absence of the ministerial order has created a legal vacuum whereby compensations for accident damages have no legal basis.

The Supreme Court moved to determine the minimum amount to compensate a victim, and that is used pending the minimum wage determined by the Ministerial order," she said.

Judges asked the ASSAR lawyers what they critisise about the minimum amount set by the Supreme Court, or if they find it unfavourable to the public's interest.