Employment partners resolve to work together |03 May 2016

Employment partners have agreed to work closer together in order to create a more conducive and productive environment for workers in Seychelles.

This resolution between government, employers, employees, trade unions as well as students has come as a result of what the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources Development has called a tripartite conference. The consultation on the future of the work place which was held last week as part of activities to mark Labour Day, aimed at identifying challenges and opportunities for the future of the world of work.

For there to be better collaboration between all the stakeholders however, delegates also agreed that better communication and more education – especially worker education – are needed. In this vein, they stressed that the roles of labour related ministries and government organisations must be well defined. A brief survey in the room for example shown that many people were ignorant of what MIEDBI (Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation), or SBFA (Small Business Financial Authority) meant. They added that the blue economy concept needs also to be better defined, as many people do not know where it starts and where it stops.

As a solution to this concern, they proposed that ministries and other organisations make effective use of technology to provide information to the public and make known the organisations and their roles. While agreeing on the need for more investment in the educational and blue economy sectors, it was also generally felt that government can be less archaic when choosing the names of ministries and public organisations.

There were also calls to reform the education system into a more modern one, through a review of the school curriculum and technical skills development.  There should be a change of perception the delegates insisted, which should be based on value of work, may it be academic or technical.

Among other demands voiced out at the conference were better incentives for small businesses and in favour of renewable energy. Delegates were also of the view that lower internet and utilities costs will contribute to sustainable development.

Officially closing the conference, the principal secretary (PS) for Labour and Human Resources Development Veronique Bresson described the work ahead and the application of the recommendations as “a noble task”. She added that the conference has shown that the Seychelles’ labour market is a dynamic one and that government will take all necessary steps to ensure good work environment and that the youth is offered good career opportunities. She at the same time called on employees as well as employers to also take their responsibilities seriously.

“The future of the world of work concerns us all” and “a productive and dynamic workforce is the future of work,” concluded PS Bresson.