By Eddie Nsabimana
It will take concerted efforts between the government and the Private sector to bridge gender gaps existing in private companies so as to promote a gender-inclusive business environment, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Soraya Hakuziyaremye, has said.
The Minister made the remarks last week at an event recognizing private sector companies for promoting gender equality at workplaces.
Hakuziyaremye said though some private companies have taken bold steps in embracing gender equality through the gender equality seal certification initiative, a lot of gaps on women representation in the private sector continue to persist and she called on the private sector to play a major role in changing this trend.
“Promoting gender equality not only makes business sense but also an important strategy to achieve sustainable development. We need to see more women on corporate boards, on executive committees and other roles where they have been traditionally left out. I believe that this can be made possible if corporates are intentional about it,” she said.
Statistics from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) Labor force survey, 2018, indicate that women account for close to 45 percent of the labor force in Rwanda. However, looking at the jobs they are doing, most of them are employed as farm laborers, domestic cleaners and helpers, stall and market salespersons and shopkeepers.
The survey further highlights a big gap existing between female and male owners of enterprises whereby 33 percent of females own micro-enterprises, 29 percent of females own small enterprises while only 15 percent of females own medium enterprises…Read more>>
