Rwamagana district on Wednesday celebrated the International Labour Day by rewarding recently retired workers with cash and certificates of merit.Paul Rwangarinde, formerly an employee of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and Ferediyana Nyiraneza, the former in charge of customer care at the district, parted with Rwf1 million each.Kadihira Rukundo, a messenger at the district offices, was given Rwf 100,000 and a bicycle. Other workers, who were retired because they never met the requirements set by the employer, were also given unspecified amount of money.The official retirement age is 65, but after serving for 15 years, a worker can be allowed, on demand, to retire at the age of 55.According to the district mayor Nehemie Uwimana, the rewards were meant to recognise workers who served diligently, until they retired.Uwimana noted that the retired workers honoured served for at least 15 years, without any major problems in their respective duties.Hands on teaching"They were exemplary and we expect those still in service to emulate them. It is all about recognising those who served well, and motivating young workers,” he said.He urged local leaders to be proactive, adding that they should be exemplary when serving people."If you are advising farmers on agriculture practices, get a hoe and show by example how it is done. Agronomists shouldn’t teach from abstract.”Marie Odette Mukansanga, the Vice Chairperson, NEC, who also donated aFriesian cow to a retired NEC official in the district, echoed the importance of the rewards.She emphasised that hard work was the basis of development."The rewards are positive reinforcements that will make the lazy worker rethink. We are servants of the people and should live in accordance with our oaths as we dispense our duties,” she said.Nyiraneza, 60, said her prize came as surprise."I am indeed humbled by the rewards; for sure I served all clients equally. I never cared whether I knew them or not. I felt it was a moral obligation to serve all people immediately and equally. Rwf 1m is good money,” she said.Rwamagana district has over 286 workers.