Over 450 posts set to be localised |20 November 2013

The Labour and Human Resource Development minister has announced that 454 posts have been identified for localisation in the coming three years and the ministry has succeeded in formulating a detailed succession plan which it is applying in workplaces.

Minister Idith Alexander made the announcement in the National Assembly yesterday when answering a question by majority party member Sylvianne Valmont.

Mrs Valmont had asked the minister if the succession plans in work places are being effectively carried out and what mechanism the ministry has in place to carry out the necessary monitoring.
It was some five months ago that Minister Alexander gave the National Assembly details of how her ministry planned to develop a localisation plan.

Minister Alexander said this has been possible with the collaboration of 33 organisations in particular tourism establishments employing over 50 employees who provided the necessary information to help formulate the plan.

Around 454 positions have been identified for localisation over the coming three years in the private sector. From this figure 174 positions are at management level while 280 at supervisory level.

Minister Alexander noted that these organisations  have not only identified the posts for localisation but they have also submitted a detailed succession plan which include identifying the right people, the training and skills they would need, the timeframe required for them to discharge their new responsibility and to prove themselves.

“The employment department and the National Human Resource Development Council (NHRDC) will work in close collaboration to ensure the plan is put in place,” added the minister.
She said information from the succession plan will be integrated in the national human resource development plan.

The employment department through its localisation unit will work closely with respective organisations to monitor the effective application of the plan.

Regular visits to work places will be carried out to ensure identified Seychellois are following training, are getting the opportunity to develop their skills, are getting support from the foreigner whom they are understudying  as per the plan, Minister Alexander explained.

In addition, monitoring of the plan will also be integrated in the routine inspections carried out by officials from the Labour and Human Resource Development to workplaces.

The ministry has also set up a committee comprising representatives of different ministries, departments, and organisations aimed at giving proper guidance to ensure the succession plan is carried out effectively.

The minister said the effective realisation of a succession plan is quite a long process when taking into account that the Seychellois identified to take on a new position needs to acquire the necessary skills and experience the position requires.

Meanwhile Minister Alexander is informing all Seychellois who have been identified for an understudy in  different organisations that a promotion will not necessarily be automatic but that they will have to prove they are competent, reliable, have positive attitudes and show devotion for their job to eventually be able to obtain the positions.

Minister Alexander said she is satisfied that her ministry has succeeded in formulating the detailed  succession plan though she admitted that it was not an easy task as there have been resistance in some quarters.

She stressed that the important thing now is for her ministry to intensify its effort to ensure that the plan is applied in workplaces.