Ministry reviews child labour laws |30 August 2013

Child labour may not be a big problem in Seychelles for the time being, as opposed to being a major dilemma in other African, Asian, South American, Caribbean or even East European countries.
 However, as requested by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), it is necessary for the country to review its existing laws and policies, particularly on the application of Conventions 138 on worst forms of child labour and 182 on minimum working age which Seychelles was the first country to ratify in 1999.

It is with this in mind that the Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development in collaboration with the ILO and local partners from different industries held a conference this week in order to draft an applicable list of the types of hazardous work prohibited for children of less than 18 years of age.

The drafting of the list is also part of Seychelles’ ‘Decent Work Country Programme’ (DWCP) which the Seychelles’ government agreed upon with the ILO in 2011.

Jimmy Finesse, the director general for Labour Relations, outlined the purpose of the conference:

“Child labour is for the moment not an alarming problem in Seychelles but we have to monitor and at the same time update our legislation and policy and upkeep the ‘Decent Work Country Programme’. It is also important for employers to be aware of the existing laws and regulations,” he explained.

Mr Finesse added that if it is easier to monitor formal employment, the challenge remains in informal activities where children can be dragged in illegal practices like organised theft, drug trafficking, prostitution or even pornography.

He concluded that the best tool against the expansion of child hazardous work is education, whereby children, employees, law enforcers, and the general public must be sensitised on child labour as well as the existing framework against the illicit activity.

Apart from local stakeholders such as other government ministries, Seychelles Workers Union, Association of Employers as well as representatives of tourism and construction sectors which are considered as sensible work places, the conference was also attended by an expert from the ILO, Japanese Ogasawara Minoru, who is based in his organisation’s Nairobi office.

Antoine Robinson, the secretary general of the Seychelles Federation of Workers’ Unions who also attended the conference, has commented that the necessary makeup against child labour is already in place, but has to be constantly adapted to change:

“Seychelles was the first country to ratify and put the necessary anti-child labour and child protection structure into place. However, proper follow-up is needed with the collaboration of all partners. Seychelles does not have a child labour problem in general but negative tendencies are developing as a result of change in the local economic configuration.”

The workshop was held at the Coco d’Or Hotel at Beau Vallon.

During the two-day deliberations, delegates also had the opportunity to decide on the structure and management of future consultations.