How Many Women Are In Public Service? – Parliament Queries Minister

Public Service and Labour Minister Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa did not give specific numbers of women working in the public service when questioned about the issue in the Lower Chamber of parliament, instead divulging general percentages.

Minister Rwanyindo, with her senior staff, was appearing before Parliament’s economy and budget committee to defend her 2019-2020 budget estimates, and review of how last year’s budget was executed.

In her presentation, the Minister did not reveal the total number of government employees and the breakdown.

But she told the committee that there was good progress to have women actively participating in all sectors of the economy. The Minister said 44% of civil servants are women.

During the interactive session, MP Madina Ndangiza put it to the Minister that Parliament be informed of whether the percentage is reflected across all levels of management.

Article 9, section 4 of the 2003 commits Rwanda to “building a state governed by the rule of law, a pluralistic democratic government, equality of all Rwandans and between women and men reflected by ensuring that women are granted at least thirty per cent (30%) of posts in decision making organs”.

In the Lower Chamber alone, the number of women MPs is 61 percent of the 80-member House.

Minister Rwanyindo admitted there was still work to be done to have women at decision-making levels of all public and private institutions.

She presented some figures to the lawmakers;

• Ministers and Permanent Secretaries (PS) are 47.3% women,
• Heads of Public Institutions are 19%, Director Generals in Ministries and their equivalent are 22.6%
• Heads of department and equivalent are 25.3%
• Heads of divisions 25.6% and Directors of Units are 25%.

The Minister said: “We still have a low number of women in leadership positions…while the number may be still low at levels where officials are appointed, we also have to look into why the women are few in technical roles where office holders have to qualify through exams.”