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Secretary general Antoine Robinson described their efforts as the country’s most valuable resource when he launched a workshop to mark World Day for Decent Work.

Members of local workers’ groups attended the half-day session at the International Conference Centre, organised by the SFWU under the theme Decent work, decent life – a right for all workers.

The event was said to be the federation’s contribution to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) agenda of decent work, which is fully supported by the International Trade Union Confederation.

Mr Robinson said the SFWU will never agree to deviate from, nor betray, the social philosophy that has served as the best balance between legal protection for Seychellois workers on the one hand and economic competitiveness and employment creation on the other.

This is the reason why the SFWU fully supports the government in setting up the new employment tribunal, he added.

Mr Robinson said the federation is unhappy about the manipulative attitudes of certain employers to keep the union out of workplaces by refusing to sign recognition and check-off agreements, though the right to these is clearly set out in the Industrial Relations Act.

“We are determined to take this fight to all levels with the support of our international partners to ensure the protection of workers,” he said.

Those who took part in the session discussed several issues relating to labour laws, including the conformity of our laws to the revolutionary changes taking place in labour relations.

They also talked about the philosophy of social protection as the bedrock of our political stability and the labour laws of Seychelles in line with ratified ILO conventions – described as the “bible” of decent work.