2,150 mining workers certified as Rwanda intensifies push for professional mining

The certification ceremony, held on Wednesday, December 4, 2025, in Kigali, marked the fourth national cohort of mining workers to complete the assessment jointly organized by the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), and Rwanda Extractive Industry Workers Union (REWU). A total of 2,150 mining workers currently working across the country received certificates of competence after passing the evaluation.

Jean-Damascène Muhawenimana, one of them from mining site located in Ruhango District, said the training helped them acquire skills ranging from extraction techniques to the sorting of precious stones.

“The mining workers’ life will improve, but things weren’t going well before. Our employers invested money and paid regular monthly salaries, but they didn’t reward us according to what we produced,” he noted.

Eng. André Mutsindashyaka, Secretary General of Rwanda Extractive Industry Workers Union (REWU), said Rwanda continues to elevate the professionalism of those working in the Mining sector through on-the-job training.

“In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service and Labour, the Rwanda TVET Board, and employers, we have already assessed 4,850 workers,” he said. “Today, we welcomed 2,150 workers who received their certificates of competence, proving that they have mastered the skills in mining sector and can perform it correctly," he highlighted.

He also added that although Rwanda’s mining sector employs more than 90,000 people, not all workers have proof of specialized mining knowledge. Certification, he said, helps validate experience, expand employment opportunities, and improve access to contracts and job security.

Mrs Alice Uwase, Director General of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), reminded miners that the certificate is a sign that the country values their work and return.

“Those working in Mining extraction must work professionally and be properly compensated,” she said. 

“Any investor in the mining sector must respect the law, provide workers with employment contracts, and ensure all benefits required by Rwanda’s labor regulations.”

Eng. Paul Umukunzi, Director General of the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), urged the certificate recipients to carry themselves with the dignity expected of a trained professional.

"A competent person behaves in a way that builds trust with employers. I urge you not to disappoint us by engaging in unworthy behavior, because you have been certified by the nation," he emphasized.

He stated the government’s commitment to continue to award the employees who received on-the-job training across multiple sectors, noting that more than 52,000 people have already benefited from the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program. The initiative will continue to expand to other fields, including hospitality, carpentry, and construction.

According to RMB, the mining sector in Rwanda begun in 1930s. In 2024 alone, the broader mining sector generated US$1.75 billion and provided employment to more than 92,000 people.

written by Dusabe Spéciose