New agency to replace NHRDC |04 November 2013

A new agency aimed at raising the standard and quality of services available to Seychellois to advance their career development, increase productivity and economic gains through a structure which better responds to present day demands and needs will soon replace the National Human Resource Development Council (NHRDC).

The Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development, Idith Alexander made the announcement in a statement in the Nation Assembly last Tuesday.  

Minister Alexander said the new agency will be run by a board which will comprise seven members representing the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment, the commission for advanced studies, the department of public administration, the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the attorney general’s office, the Seychelles Qualification Authority and a human resource specialist.
 
“The new agency is expected to better assess the state of the country’s human resource needs and ensure the necessary manpower capable of supporting development,” said Minister Alexander.

The new agency will be made up of three units – Human Resource Development Analysis Unit, Scholarship Administration Unit, and the Support Services and Special Programmes Unit.

Among its functions, the agency will advise and help government develop human resource and this would include introducing new initiatives to develop the labour force, continue to coordinate planning and development of human resource in both the public and private sectors, and provide a consultative forum for different partners and stakeholders involved in human resource development.

The NHRDC was set up in 2006 but in 2009 as a result of reforms in the public sector there was a need to start reviewing its functions and add others.

In 2012, the reform review exercise continued with the aim of repositioning the council and that included putting in place a new law to bring it up to date with its new functions and agency status.