Employers in both public and private institutions should prioritise workers’ safety in order to avoid occupational hazards.

The call was made on Tuesday by officials in Rubavu District as Rwanda joined the rest of the world to celebrate Occupational Safety and Health day (OSH) at Brasserie et Limonaderie du Rwanda (Bralirwa).

Judith Uwizeye, the Minister for Public Service and Labour, said there was need for employers to ensure that employees know their rights.

She said that the number of victims at the workplace in the country and at international level is increasing and called for combined efforts to reverse the trend which costs lives and in turn affects the national economy.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 2.3 million people die due to occupational diseases, 1.6 million get sick due to hazzards at the work place while 313 million get accidents.

ILO also says that 4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is spent in caring for accidents and diseases as a result of work.

The minister noted that figures from Rwanda Social Security Board show that the number of people dying while at work has been increasing over the past years.

She pointed out that the number of people who died due to work related accidents and diseases in 2007 were 41 but the number shot to 266 in 2012.

Over 1.4billion was spent as indemnities for death and accidents for employees, she said"We will continue to inspect both public and private institutions to ensure workers’ safety and security are respected,” she noted.

Africain Biraboneye the deputy Secretary General of Workers’ Trade Union (CESTRAR), said that while the recorded figures show an increase every year, the informal sector which is the most affected is not given much attention.

He said that CESTRAR will keep working with cooperatives and other stake holders to ensure that the informal sector is included and given rights as other employees.

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