Minister of public service and labor on April 28 urged employers to strengthen efforts to prevent gender-based violence at the workplace, saying it threatens employee safety and productivity.
Ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka spoke during events marking the International Day for Safety and Health at Work, held alongside the closing of a training for workplace health and safety committee members.
She said workplace safety remains a global challenge, with many deaths linked to unsafe conditions, and noted that Rwanda faces ongoing concerns.
Nkulikiyinka highlighted key issues including protection of employees’ personal data, professional conduct and gender-based violence.
“We must prioritize safeguarding personal information, promoting proper conduct and combating gender-based violence to ensure a safe working environment,” she said.
She emphasized that trust between employers and employees is essential to productivity, adding that workers must be assured their personal, health and professional information is handled confidentially.
“Protecting personal data helps build a culture of trust, openness and psychological safety,” she said.
Nkulikiyinka called for firm action against workplace gender-based violence, saying it violates human dignity, harms mental health and undermines performance.
“No workplace can be safe if such behavior is tolerated,” she said, urging institutions to adopt clear policies, reporting mechanisms and preventive measures, particularly to protect women and vulnerable groups.
She added that integrity, accountability, transparency and respect are critical to strengthening teamwork and institutional trust.
Participants in the training said the skills gained would help them carry out their responsibilities more effectively.
Dr. Jean Damascene Iyamuremye the director of psychiatric care at Rwanda Biomedical Centre said employers should support workers’ mental and economic well-being to improve workplace safety.
