BUJUMBURA July 28th (ABP) – The Minister of Public Service, Labor and Employment, Mr. Thaddée Ndikumana, hosted on Tuesday July 26, 2022, in Bujumbura, a press conference where he presented the summary report of the major achievements made during the last quarter of the 2021-2022 budget year as well as the outlook for the first quarter of the current budget year.
Regarding the activities carried out during the last quarter of the past year, Minister Ndikumana spoke of the new salary policy already adopted by the government, noting that the implementing texts of this new salary policy were drawn up and adopted in Council of Ministers. He also spoke about the updating of the General Statute of Civil Servants for the effective implementation of this new salary policy. That new statute has already been submitted to parliament for analysis and enrichment, added Minister Ndikumana.
For the efficient implementation of the Labor Code, Mr. Ndikumana pointed out that the ministry having the public service in its attributions has drawn up implementing texts which have been validated by members of the government. In particular, he cited the text relating to child labor, the ordinance of which has already been signed.
The ministry is considering sensitizing the population for the implementation of this new ordinance, he added.
That minister also indicated that he had submitted to the government the ordinance relating to the workers of the East African Community (EAC) according to the protocol governing the member countries of the EAC which stipulates that there must be texts of application to allow the populations of the member countries to access the jobs available in each member country of this community.
He also submitted to the government the joint ordinance stipulating that private companies wishing to recruit Burundians to place them outside the country must contact the ministry having foreign affairs in its attributions, while private companies wishing to recruiting local workers should approach the Ministry of Civil Service, Labor and Employment, Ndikumana said.
Concerning the employability of young people via the Burundian Office for Employment and Manpower (OBEM) and the General Directorate of Labour, Minister Ndikumana said that the latter have organized training sessions at the place of 250 young people grouped in Sangwe cooperatives, which have promoted the breeding of hens.
Returning to the implementation of the new salary policy, Mr. Ndikumana pointed out that among the staff of State civil servants, it was noted that there were personnel who did not have a job description. which is called “typical job”. Thus, the Ministry in charge of Labor has drawn up lists on which appear the standard jobs which are described for each ministry and the personnel for which the standard jobs are not described.
As for future prospects, Mr. Ndikumana pointed out that the Ministry in charge of Labor intends to continue the process of computerizing the career of the Civil Service, noting that with government funding, this Ministry has acquired some computers to start classification of officials.
That ministry intends to effectively implement the new salary policy even if, revealed Minister Ndikumana, during the awareness retreat for parastatal institutions, it was noted that there are difficulties in understanding the content of this new salary policy. To that end, he pointed out that the technicians/experts of the said ministry are ready to be able to accompany them.
Since that ministry has the duty to monitor and evaluate all paid jobs in the country, Minister Ndikumana indicated that we plan to organize the job fair in August 2022 in Gitega, which will be enhanced by the presence of the country’s high authorities and knowing the participation of private companies, which will have the opportunity to exhibit what they do and the jobs they have created.
That will be an opportunity to sensitize young Burundians to the creation of their own jobs without however waiting to be hired by the State, explained Minister Ndikumana, stressing that development will indeed come from the initiation of private companies. This job fair will be enhanced by exchanges and presentations where the Investment Bank for Youth (BIJE) and the Youth Economic Empowerment and Employment Program (PAEEJ) will have the opportunity to present their benefits for young people.
At the same time, the Ministry responsible for Employment intends to distribute 1,000 chicks and food to young people grouped in cooperatives, who have benefited from entrepreneurial training, Mr. Ndikumana said.
As for the conflicts that exist between certain employers and their employees, especially those of private companies, Minister Ndikumana stressed that it is a question of the bad interpretation of the labor code as well as the decrees and ordinances relating thereto. For parastatal institutions not governed by the General Statute of Civil Servants, Minister Ndikumana recommends that those concerned comply with it as soon as possible for the effective implementation of the new salary policy.