New labour measures to protect workers |13 April 2006

The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2006 was one of the last bills on the order paper to be debated in the National Assembly at the last sitting for this first term.

The Assembly has gone into a four-month recess.
The bill was presented by the Minister for Economic Planning and Employment, Jacquelin Dugasse, who said it was important to modernise the existing laws to meet important changes that had taken place over the past years, especially new measures introduced by President James Michel to modernise the economy.

He said the amendments made were flexible, up to date with new national tendencies, and international conventions and would help to improve working conditions and boost productivity in the country.

They also complement the new regulations introduced in the Employment Act in March this year pertaining to new calculations for annual leave based on working days, instead of calendar days and compensation payable to a part-time and casual worker.

The Bill makes provisions that will protect young people from harassment on discriminatory ground and procedures to deal with such cases.

It also seeks to prevent discrimination by employers in making any decision as to recruitment, conditions of employment, wages, disciplinary control or termination of employment. 

In the event of an employer making an employment decision against a worker on the ground of the latter's age, gender, race, colour, nationality, religion, HIV status, sexual orientation or political affiliation, the individual in question is entitled to make a formal complaint.

The Bill also clarifies the position that a non-Seychellois worker may be employed only on a fixed-term contract, for a period not less than three months, compared to 21 days as was the case before.  Under the new regulations, all employers are required to issue a pay slip to each worker while keeping proper records.

Members who spoke in favour of the Bill included Honourable Giovanna Charles; Hon. Bernard Georges; Hon. Alain St Ange; Hon. Anne Marie Mathiot; the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Wavel Ramkalawan; the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Patrick Herminie; Hon. Annette Georges; Hon. Dick Esparon and Hon. David Pierre.

Hon. Mathiot, Hon. Charles and Hon. Herminie highlighted the fact that the conditions of Seychellois workers as well as their wages have over the past 30 years improved remarkably.
They all agreed that in general workers in Seychelles are better off and not being subjected to injustices when compared to workers in other countries.

The amendments, Hon. Herminie said, would enable the country to keep up with new challenges and emerging trends as well as workers' expectations.

Welcoming the Bill, Hon. Ramkalawan said there was a need to protect workers from harassment and mistreatment, especially the young people who he said were more vulnerable.