Labour day conference defines future employment challenges |29 April 2016
In order to define future employment challenges, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources Development has brought together employers, employees and trade unions in what it has called a tripartite conference on the future of work.
The conference is among activities organised to mark International Labour Day on May 1.
During the opening ceremony at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) yesterday morning, the labour ministry launched its revised National HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy. The launch of the new policy which coincided with World Safety Day which was celebrated yesterday, took place in the presence of the Minister for Education Macsuzy Mondon and the chairperson of the National HIV/AIDS Council Dr Anne Gedeon.
The two-day conference which ends this morning has been organised with the collaboration of the ILO (International Labour Organisation). Speaking on behalf of the director of the ILO Regional Office Christian Ntsay, Severine Deboos – an employment specialist working for the organisation – has remarked that such dialogues are taking place all over the world with the aim of ensuring inclusive growth and making tripartite dialogue the engine for change.
She has added that it is important for labour partners to think together with a view to better understand the changes in labour processes and to ensure decent work for all. These changes, she says, are driven by technological advances, innovation in robotics, computer power, artificial intelligence, medical sciences, nanotechnology, globalisation and increase in vulnerable employment where women are much more at risk than men.
As a result of the conversation Ms Deboos has concluded, ILO will be in a better position to help governments, employers and workers influence in shaping the world of work they want to see in the future. This will be done through the ‘Future of Work Initiative’ which is also intended to reinforce the organisation’s voice in international governance and to enhance the services it provides to its constituents.
The forum was launched by the Minister for Labour and Human Resources Development Idith Alexander who said Seychelles is pleased to join the ‘Future of Work Initiative’. She added that the country’s involvement upholds the government’s commitment to the ideals of the ILO and depicts its continued dedication towards the progress and future of our workforce.
“The future of our country still depends largely on its workforce. Our strength originates from workers’ unity and fight for better working conditions. For our past generation, the value of work was beyond the income that they received. Work was a fundamental right which gave them dignity and purpose. For that, the government has always played the leading role in promoting and ensuring that worker’ rights are respected,” the labour minister reminded.
She went on to enumerate the different steps taken in order to ensure the proper evolvement of the world of work in Seychelles. These have included active labour market policies, private sector development, productivity studies which have resulted in a five-year strategic plan, a quota system to effectively manage the employment of non-Seychellois workers, support for the most vulnerable groups as well as the recent My First Job scheme.
Looking towards the future, Ms Alexander warned that we cannot talk about work without considering what is happening across the world, where many countries have experienced slow economic growth and slow jobs creation, including youth unemployment, as a result of the 2008 economic crisis. She asked that we consider a future of work that is decent and sustainable and tackle concerns about attitudes towards work, social issues, skills mis-match and requirements of the labour market, the contribution of employment and businesses in climate change, poor human resource management as well as youth unemployment.
Other speakers at the opening ceremony included the secretary general of the Seychelles Federation of Workers’ Union Antoine Robinson and the executive secretary of the Federation of Employers’ Association of Seychelles Michelle Labrosse.
Mr Robinson appealed on workers to work with commitment and discipline and to avoid laziness. He called on employees to give reward to their staff where reward is due and to open their doors to trade unions and workers’ representatives, so that a fruitful workplace dialogue can take place. For people without a job, he asked them to ‘leve al debourye’, meaning take up a permanent, part time or casual job or even create their own business.
On her side, Mrs Labrosse highlighted that the time where employees had to adapt to managers and managers had to adapt to organisations is now reversed with managers and organisations now adapting to employees. This she explained means that organisations must now rethink and challenge everything they know about work, including their traditional structure, how they empower employees and what they need to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world.
Among topics discussed during the two-day dialogues are: The statistics trend of the labour market, the importance of work, renewable energy and employment, the role of SMEs in future job creation and innovation, the transition period from school to work, employment opportunities in the blue economy and tripartism and its practice.
Employment statistics show that the current Seychelles’ labour force counts about 55,000 people with almost 70% working in the private sector, while the tourism sector remains the highest employer.
As for unemployment, it remains at a low rate of 5%.