Minister Sebahizi Prudence told members of parliament that a factory that has been operating for a month has requested 200 workers, but they found that the skills it needs are new and not available in Rwanda. Sebahizi, the Minister of Trade and Industry, made this statement while presenting Rwanda’s ten-year industrial policy in Parliament.
ALSO READ: DRC: Lawmakers Clear the Way for Tshisekedi to Stay in Power for Many Years
Government Approves Recruitment of Foreign Experts
The mining company, after realising that it could not find the workers it needed locally, agreed to recruit them from outside the country. The move was approved as a temporary measure to ensure that the factory’s operations continue without disruption while local capacity is developed.
New Training Program Introduced for Rwandans
ALSO READ: Is Iran Walking a Dangerous Path?
Explaining the government’s response, the minister said: “When the factory told us its plan, showed us a list of workers and found that they were not available here, we agreed to recruit them from outside, but we immediately set up a program to teach these new programs that were not available in Rwanda.”
The initiative aims to equip Rwandans with the specialised skills required by emerging industries and reduce dependence on foreign labour in the future.
Employment Commitments Remain a Key Requirement
The minister’s remarks highlight that companies seeking permission to operate in Rwanda must present clear employment plans showing how many Rwandans they intend to hire.
Authorities closely monitor these commitments. However, when companies are unable to find qualified candidates locally for specialised positions, they are allowed to recruit workers from abroad while efforts are made to develop the necessary skills within the country.
