There is need for all government and non-government institutions to put efforts together to help create more jobs if the country is to address the issue of unemployment, Judith Uwizeye, the Minister for Public Service and Labour, has said

The minister was speaking, yesterday, in Rubavu District during the opening of a two-day workshop on employment, which attracted government officials and partners.

It aims at enhancing the knowledge and awareness of the senior officers regarding the importance of effective institutional framework for sound policy coordination, which include functional labour market and information systems to respond to demand and supply requirements, according to officials.

The minister said that the topics to be discussed during the workshop cover a wide-range of employment aspects and will be an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas.

"Employment is among the main concerns in Rwanda, especially among the youth. When the youth have no jobs, they risk indulging in harmful activities such as drug abuse and other crimes,” she said.

Lamin Manneh, the One UN Resident Coordinator, hailed the government for the continuous efforts to work on the environment that would help create more off farm jobs.

"The UN System in Rwanda is, through the framework of the United Nations Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP), supporting national efforts to achieve objectives set in National Development Strategy,” he said

Eric Manzi, the Secretary General of Workers Trade Union (CESTRAR), said the workshop would see participants discuss ways in which policies and strategies in place to create more jobs can best be implemented to reduce the current rate of unemployment.

The government, through the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS 2), targets to create at least 200,000 off-farm jobs annually.

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