Which reflections are to be made on this Labour Day? What should we ask of employers, and what are employees expected to behave like? During a workshop held at Hotel Novotel three days ago, Professor Bernhard Tenckhoff, Director of Operation Safety Management at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, appealed to employers to ensure safety and health of workers. The workshop was in remembrance of the injured and those who died at work. At the event, government and workers unions were urged to work closely together in an effort to uphold the safety and health of workers. The obvious was repeated by Tenchhoff for emphasis’ sake, that “it is very important for employers to deal with occupational safety and health for their workers here in Rwanda because this will bring success and development in the country.” Putting safety and health measures in place will prevent, or at the least minimise injury and/or death. But these are work hazards in their extreme. Before a worker sustains any injury or even loses life at work, we can consider a few things which create a pleasant atmosphere at the workplace and bring about a good relationship between employee and employer. And boost economic productivity. Team spirit, candour, hard work, loyalty, time keeping, willingness to share knowledge, willingness to learn and sacrifice for colleagues are a few qualities which can endear you to fellow employees and your employer. On the employer’s part, fair wages, absence of various types of discrimination, freedom of expression, health care and social security are some of the matters pertinent to attractive working conditions. Workers should give their all where they are hired, but the employer must reward the input on fair terms. When this is the relationship, the story can be that of enterprise, vision and hard work. It is what Rwandans need to transform ours into the better nation we envisage by 2020. We must aim at having no child labourers twelve years from now. We should by then be a nation made of people looking back with pride to where we shall have come from. Each one of us should that time want to be happy with the contribution we shall have made in regard to the national prosperity. Only then shall we be deserving of honour. Ends
