Burundi's president urges return of exiled civil servants at Int'l Workers' Day celebration

As the world marked the International Workers' Day on Sunday, Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza urged the return of exiled civil servants.

"Peace and security are being restored in Burundi. I urge people who went into exile due to the crisis that broke out last year to return home. Civil servants are given only one month," said the president in a message to the nation, adding those who will not have come back to their workplaces within one month will be sanctioned according to the law.

Nkurunziza urged a census of civil servants who fled the country and those who have already returned in order to avoid paying fictional workers.

"At the end of the census, the civil service ministry will be able to know the real figure of civil servants and will therefore calculate their salaries without making mistakes,"he said.

Nkurunziza indicated that "incompetent" civil servants will be replaced.

The president called on citizens to work hard following suspension of cooperation by some partners of Burundi including the European Union and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

"Even if some partners of Burundi are leaving our country alone, we have to work hard in order to earn our living," said Nkurunziza.

According to him, job creation is going to be the priority of the Burundian government.

In Burundi, the International Workers' Day will be celebrated on May 2, in accordance with the law on public holidays. Enditem