New scheme to ease employment of single parents |04 December 2013

A flexible working programme has been introduced for single mothers and fathers who normally would not be able to work in hotels in view of the shift work requirement.

This pilot project targeting employment of single parents is a collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Ste Anne Resort Resort and Spa.

The principal secretary for Labour and Human Resource Development, Veronique Bresson, and the general manager of Ste Anne Resort and Spa, Norbert Couvreur, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the introduction of such a scheme.

The aim of this programme, on which ten single mothers are currently enrolled, is to provide them with the opportunity to work around a flexible schedule that suits their needs and at the same time be beneficial to both themselves and the resort.

Present at the signing ceremony were the principal secretary for Tourism and Culture, Anne Lafortune, the chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Sherin Renaud, officials from the Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development and from Tourism and Culture, the management team of Ste Anne Resort and Spa and five of the programme participants.

PS Bresson thanked the Mr Couvreur for having been receptive to the idea from the beginning.

She said that this programme is also an opportunity for tourism establishments to attract more locals to join the industry as it makes it accessible to the wider population who want to make their contribution in this sector of the economy.

She added that all concerned should continue to work together to ensure its success and gave her ministry’s commitment to seeing it through.

Mr Couvreur on his part thanked all the partners present for initiating this pilot project with his resort. He also welcomed the participants to the programme and told them that without their participation, the programme would not be possible.

All present had words of encouragement for the participants. They were advised to avail of this opportunity to advance their career and that they need to work hard and persevere to get to where they want to be.

The ministry plans to promote this programme at other tourism establishments in the near future.