People who have rare or special skills will be recruited in the public service without competing for the positions if a new draft law establishing the general statute governing public servants is approved.
However, some Members of Parliament, and Rwanda Workers’ Trade Union Confederation (CESTRAR) have urged caution about such proposed direct recruitment into the public service.
Their concerns are that the proposed arrangement might be abused, or face implementation challenges if not effectively checked.
Appearing before the parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs last week, Fanfan Rwanyindo, the Minister for Public Service and Labour, said that currently, there are no proper strategies to attract and integrate persons with rare and niche skills as permanent public servants except for job positions where people are appointed.
"Guidelines will be set on how the direct recruitment should be done,” Rwanyindo said.
She further added that unusual situations require taking unusual decisions and methods for the country to achieve results, citing the new initiative to use satellites which Rwanda has undertaken to provide broadband internet connectivity to remote schools, among areas that require rare or special skills.
MP Barthélemy Karinijabo said that although the country might need special skills, he questioned how those people will be effectively identified, and integrated into the public service without an announcement for recruitment, and exams.
"We should rather ease the recruitment process such that it takes less time. A person might have such skills in America and he/she is living there. Another with such skills might be in France, or Belgium, and might also be interested in such an offer,” he said.
MP Gloriose Uwanyirigira said that the law should be examined carefully so that it is not subject to frequent short-term reviews.
"Although we have a handful of people with such rare skills, what will happen if there is one vacancy while two or three people have similar skills?” she asked.
"Again, as our country is developing, and this is the law we are considering to be valid in the long-run, how will we handle the issue once we get many people with such skills say after two years?” she wondered.
Eric Manzi, the Secretary-General of CESTRAR, told Sunday Times that there should be a specific and clear order that will determine how this will be done.
He added that if possible, it should be published after consultations with all stakeholders [in the public sector], including government institutions and trade unions so that they give their inputs.
"If the outcome of this law is not successful, it can result in injustice,” he said.
Rwanyindo indicated that a Presidential Order will determine modalities for the recruitment of public servants and how these methods of recruitment will be put in place. This order, she said, may also provide for other methods of recruitment.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com