GETUS executive committee members meet ILO representative |25 July 2018

The executive committee of the General Employers Trade Union of Seychelles (GETUS) yesterday met with a representative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to discuss important issues on how to push the Union forward and better serve its members.

Regional Employers Specialist Jeanne Schmitt representing the ILO’s Descent Work Team for Eastern and Southern Africa had the chance to hear the concerns and advise the executive members of GETSU on how to better deliver, all in line with the organisation’s principles and standards.

The GETUS has been registered as a trade union under section 10 of the Industrial Relations Act 1994, with Ralph Ernesta as its chairperson.

Donald Monnaie is the vice-chairperson, while Tina Hoarau executive secretary.

In her introduction at yesterday’s meeting held at the Ceps meeting room at the Orion Mall, Mrs Schmitt gave a brief introduction on the ILO which is the only tripartite United Nations agency with government, employer, and worker representatives.

She explained that the tripartite structure makes the ILO a unique forum in which the governments and the social partners of the economy of its Member States can freely and openly debate and elaborate labour standards and policies.

She noted that the most important thing for the ILO is to have the employers of Seychelles in front of them while they discuss, especially in the tripartite forum that exists and the kind of discussion that ILO is promoting.

This, she said, is what is of importance to the organisation.

Mrs Schmitt also listened and took notes of various concerns raised by the members.

The GETUS has now 75 members on Mahé and 15 from the inner islands from numerous sectors such as agriculture, construction, cleaning and consultancy.

To be a member of the union, one has to pay R100 registration fee and R100 per month for continuous membership.

It has been accredited by the Citizens Engagement Platform (Ceps).