WESTERN PROVINCE

RUSIZI — The Mayor of Rusizi district, Jean Pierre Turatsinze has asked residents to work hard in order to fight poverty.

The mayor observed that wealth remains elusive because some people are lazy and those who work are not committed to what they do.

"We should all eliminate the habit of laziness by working hard and doing all what is possible in our respective places of work and residences in order to jump the poverty line," Turatsinze urged.

Turatsinze was speaking during Labour Day celebrations last week at Cyangugu stadium in Kamembe sector.

Turatsinze also asked all leaders in the region to help the government in changing people’s attitudes towards work. He also urged collaboration in each and every development activity for purposes of sharing various experiences and ideas.

Residents were further encouraged to always deliver quality services in their daily activities and to participate in all government programmes like community work.

The mayor asked parents and teachers to educate children and youth to love work since they are the future leaders.

Residents should desist from genocide ideology and instead love each other, Turatsinze said. By increasing production, the Mayor said, farmers would increase their incomes and the country’s foreign exchange through exports. Turning to the business community, the mayor advised them to always deliver quality services to their clients in order to maintain their customers.

Silvestre Bahuwiyongera who spoke on behalf of workers at the function decried the culture of failing to give employees work contracts by their employers, saying it leaves workers at the mercy of their bosses.

"Many of our fellow employees especially those working in private institutions work without contracts and this has caused many of them to be fired from work by their employers without clear reasons," he said. He appealed to the government to help all employees secure contracts.

Bahuwiyongera appealed to employers to help their workers get health insurance cards. He also called upon the government to lay down suitable working conditions especially for people working in places with health hazards.

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