Govt steps up bid to localise public service |25 November 2009

Minister for Employment and Human Resources Development Macsuzy Mondon said this yesterday during Question Time in the National Assembly.

She was answering a question tabled by the member for St Louis, Sandy Arrisol, on how far her ministry has reached in trying to replace expatriates with local people.

Mrs Mondon said the government is going all out, where possible, to localise posts held by expatriates, and all departments in the public sector have their plans to ensure this takes place.

“There are now 343 expatriates in this sector, while in 2006 there were 689,” she said.
She added that the programme to localise posts has been going on for a while, and we have to admit that sometimes it is difficult to get Seychellois professionals to replace the expatriates in the teaching and health departments.

“And even when we have tried to get Seychellois, after some time they decide to leave the country, which makes it difficult,” she said.

Regarding the measures being taken by her ministry to reduce the number of expatriates at the Sainte Anne Resort – another question tabled by Mr Arissol – Mrs Mondon said many posts have now been localised there.
She said in early 2009, when her ministry was working closely with the resort, there were 307 workers there, of whom 143 were foreigners and 164 Seychellois.

Recently, in a count of 325 employees, 224 were Seychellois and 101 foreigners, which shows a gradual decrease in the number of expatriates.

Member for Baie Lazare Wilby Lucas wanted to know if people being employed by private agencies such as the Cleaning Agency are protected under the Employment Act regarding their working hours and wages.

Mrs Mondon said they are all protected under this Act and added that anyone who feels their employer is breaching their rights should contact the Employment Department.

She added that any employer who does not adhere to this law is committing an offence and liable to a fine from R1,000 up to R10,000.

She said there are many such cases in court right now, and along with the new Employment Act 2010 they are considering setting up a tribunal to try to accelerate them so these people can get their back payment and their rightful salary.

Mitcy Larue, elected member for Baie Ste Anne, Praslin, asked Mrs Mondon if her ministry can consider training for youths and others who left public service under the voluntary departure scheme and who are interested in working in the tourism sector.

She said the Employment Department is doing an exercise to see who is interested in following training in this sector and, based on the demand, they will put this in place next year.

Yesterday’s assembly session was also attended by students from English River secondary school.