On Wednesday May 1st, 2024 - Rwanda celebrated Labour Day, reflecting a significant milestone of 30 years in fostering youth-led employment and discuss on the future of work. The event saw the convergence of over 400 delegates representing public and private sector, development partners, academia, trade unions and young entrepreneurs in tech industry. All gathered at Kigali Serena Hotel, to inaugurate the employment promotion month and launch a pivotal project aimed at boosting decent jobs and enhancing skills for Youth in Rwanda's digital economy, which was initiated in collaboration between the Government of Rwanda the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Under the overarching theme of '30 Years: Fostering Youth-Led Employment,' discussions underscored Rwanda's unwavering commitment to empowering today’s and next workforce generation.

Reflecting on three decades of youth-led employment initiatives, Hon. Minister Jean Nepo Abdallah UTUMATWISHIMA, Minister of Youth and Arts (MoYA) highlighted the transformative impact of programs such as YouthConnekt awards and HangaPitch on their role in youth employment.

He revealed that these competitions provided vital seed funding for young entrepreneurs, with studies indicating an impressive 85% success rate, where beneficiaries expanded their businesses and subsequently employed fellow youth.

Hon. Jeannette BAYISENGE, Minister of Public Service and Labour, emphasized the necessity of equipping Rwandan youth with essential skills and opportunities in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. "In a world undergoing rapid technological evolution, where industries and labour markets are being reshaped, it becomes imperative to empower our youth with required skills to tap into opportunities for their employment," stated Hon. Minister BAYISENGE during the event.

Regarding digital jobs opportunities, Hon. Minister BAYISENGE indicated that amidst the dynamic landscape of the global economy, there exist numerous avenues for skill development and employment opportunities within digital industry and said that employment in the digital economy is projected to continue growing at a rapid pace. She further highlighted that the dynamic nature of technology necessitates constant skills adaptation. Technical skills are vital, but the ability to adapt, learn continuously, and think critically is equally essential for sustainable employment in the digital era.

Further elaborating on Rwanda's vision for youth employment, Hon. Minister BAYISENGE emphasized the government's dedication to fostering job creation across various sectors, particularly prioritizing programs such as employment mainstreaming, workplace learning, and innovation programs.

Going forward, the Minister of Public Service and Labour underscored the need for all stakeholders to re-affirm their commitments to push and realize the future of work agenda and youth employment in particular.

Beyond the launch of the employment promotion month and the project on boosting decent jobs and enhancing skills for Youth in Rwanda's digital economy, a diverse collection of activities are scheduled during the whole month of May 2024. These include community engagements like labour day tournaments, occupational safety and health world day celebrations, provincial dialogues on employment, job matching platform launches, and institutional celebrations focusing on employment milestones.

END