Social security in Rwanda was fashioned during the colonial period when the Belgians realized the need for compensating their workers who suffered work injuries and similar contingencies. After independence, the colonial decrees were put together and the social security law of 15 November 1962 that marked the official existence of the Social Security Fund of Rwanda (SSFR) became enacted. The 1962 law was later abrogated by the decree law of
22 August1974. According to this law, SSFR was to administer two social security branches of pension and occupational risks.