The Minister of Public Service and Labour,
Mr. Anastase MUREKEZI has revealed that
strategies to build capacity for employment
promotion have been laid down and much
has to change this year of 2010. He
said this after two days of brainstorming
sessions with key stakeholders on these
critical issues.
We need to establish
an effective mechanism to collect and
publish employment related statistics
annually, Said the Minister.
There is a plan for an immediate reinforcement
of the Directorate General of Labour
and Employment aimed at coordinating
the labour market information system,
health and safety at the workplace;
and the employment promotion policy.
It is also proposed to create a National
Employment Agency (NEA) to implement
employment promotion operations country
wide.
Minister Anastase MUREKEZI said that,
the Business Development Services (BDS)
and the Cooperatives have been recognised
as good centres to be established country
wide to assist the population in gathering
information, preparing and managing
projects; and facilitating access to
bank loans for investment and job creation,
especially start up capital for Youth.
In the other sector, a team of consultants
is preparing a long term (15 years)
Strategy for Human Capital and Skills
Development for public sector, private
sector and civil society. Implementation
Plan will be finalised before June 2010.
Meanwhile, it was suggested that capacity
building efforts be concentrated mainly
on key sectors such as Agriculture,
Education, Health, Tourism, Transport
Trade, ICT, Mining, Energy, Construction,
Land management; and Financial management.
All training initiatives to improve
Public servant’s skills will be managed
through the Capacity Building Fund (C.B.F)
already established under the supervision
of the Ministry of Public Service and
Labour with the active participation
of key public institutions and development
partners.
In line with reinforcement of the
national capacity, RIAM is under restructuring
to serve as the right tool for short
term training programs mainly for public
servants, the Minister said. International
network will be established through
partnerships with the best institutions
world wide responsible for capacity
building. He added.
Remember that the Cabinet has passed
two Ministerial Orders related to training
promotion; internship and apprenticeship
in order to build capacity in private
sector and the implementation of internship
program has already started.
Employment Promotion, a key to Rwanda’s development
SALAFIA
Flavia
By: SALAFINA Flavia
The key to escaping out of poverty means having a job. Developing labour standards without addressing employment would be senseless. The Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Public Service and Labour dedicated part of its programmes to creating greater opportunities for women and men especially youth to secure decent employment and income. Enterprise promotion and human resource development are key elements in achieving these goals.
The Ministry of Public Service and Labour is committed to promote employment through skills development, internship, apprenticeship and entrepreneurship programs; all these combined with access to finance for investment. This was stressed by the Minister of Public Service and Labour, Mr. Anastase Murekezi, last week in a meeting to explain the new Labour Law to Private Institutions in Kigali. This is a consultative program that will be done in all Districts in the Country during February and March 2010.
The participants are given explanations on the employment contract, the general working conditions, salary and benefits, prohibited work for children, occupational health and safety and social dialogue.
The Minister urged Private institutions to develop skills for their employees so as to increase on their productivity, use ICT and promote customer service delivery.
The Minister further called upon Private institutions to take part in hosting more internees and apprentices that started with support of MIFOTRA, PSF and RDB. The trainings needed more are especially for young graduates and vocational training for youth through Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and Private Companies in priority sectors for creating new jobs. In 2009, the national internship program hosted 290 interns whereas 170.000 youth were under training in WDA formal system and SMEs in apprenticeship program.
Minister Anastase Murekezi noted that 87% of all employees in formal sector excluding agriculture have completed only primary school or less. Therefore there is urgent need for skills based training to promote jobs creation.
WDA was established in 2008 to develop technical education and vocational training (TVET). It is now proposed to establish the National Employment Agency (N.E.A) to coordinate all employment initiatives and programs operations related to labour market information system, matching the demand of jobs with the supply, recording and analyzing employment statistics and trends, skills needs assessment, career orientation, internship and apprenticeship programs implementation.
