Proposal to review businesses’ opening hours |16 January 2017

Customers in favour while business owners not so enthusiastic

Victoria, the capital of Seychelles, is known for its charm, colonial history and for being the business centre of the country.

And yet a visitor to Victoria would often find a lifeless and dull capital especially after normal business hours, which is from 8am to 4pm, and on weekends.

This situation has raised much concern and has made some people wonder: ‘What if the opening hours of businesses and offices in Victoria were reviewed so they open for longer and even on weekends?’

Yesterday Seychelles NATION made a round in Victoria to gauge public opinion on the matter.

Most of the customers interviewed were in favour of extending the opening hours of businesses and offices for various reasons.

Rose Billal of Union Vale said she thinks shops should consider opening for longer hours on Saturdays and even on Sundays to add a more cheerful atmosphere in Victoria.

“I also think that if businesses open their doors on weekends it will make it easier for Seychellois workers to conduct their transactions,” she added.

Tish and Karen, two visitors from South Africa, said the main problem they have encountered with shops in Victoria is that they tend to close for lunch hours.

Karen. who is a regular visitor to the Seychelles, states she is disappointed because she has not seen progression in terms of entertainment in the capital.

Taxi driver Jules Morel agrees that Victoria lacks entertainment and tourists have run out of options for places to relax and eat.

“Moreover everyone leave town by 5pm so the taxi industry becomes paralysed after this hour,” Mr Morel said.

21-year-old Nissa Bonte from Hangard Street was particularly dissatisfied with the current state of Victoria.

“A capital city should have innovators and entrepreneurs willing to come up with ideas to attract the public. Why don’t we have a Shisha parlour for example? Or small cafes similar to Starbucks where we can get free wifi?” she argued.

Sophia Aglae, a young mother, said “Businesses should definitely have varied opening hours to facilitate working parents who have a lot of responsibilities such as paying bills, picking up children from school and buying groceries.”

Lisa Chetty of Anse Louis further suggested that if businesses and offices in Victoria had varied opening and closing hours then the issue of traffic congestion would diminish.

“Everyone starts work at 8am and most of them finish at 4pm so at both times there is a huge inflow and outflow of people that causes traffic congestion,” she explained.

While customers were thrilled with the idea of reviewing opening hours, many businesses and offices located in Victoria were not so enthusiastic.

The manager of a small boutique called Turia’s Collection, Lynn Marianne, said she understood the necessity to review opening hours but this idea would be hard on the workers.

“We open on Saturday but close at 1pm because we, as workers, also need time for ourselves and our families. On Sunday we need to rest to get back to work on Monday.”

The same sentiment was echoed at Oops Boutique in Deeva’s Arcade and La Dolce Vita.

“The main problem with extending opening hours has to do with staffing as many Seychellois workers do not want to work on weekends but we do try to stay open until late,” said Randisi Giuseppe, the owner of La Dolce Vita.

Some employers have highlighted that, with the exception of hotels, operating businesses after hours and on Sundays is an alien concept for Seychellois workers.

“It would have been great if we could copy other countries and open on Sundays but most businesses do not have enough manpower or capital to make employees work shift,” said Lisa Chetty, a salesgirl.

Seychelles NATION also stopped by the Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport at the Independence Annex to understand why it closes down operation during lunch time (12pm to 1pm) and on weekends.

Sheryl Low-Meng, the director of human resource management and administration at the ministry explained that in general most governmental agencies close around lunch time and that the government has not introduced flexible hours yet.

Over at the Kankan boutique, owner Karine Dupouy states that even though she would love to keep the shop open for longer hours her main problem is finding eager workers.

“We usually open until 2pm on Saturdays, which is something most businesses don’t do, but since everyone else is closing by noon it slows down our operation,” Miss Dupouy added.

It is important to note that some businesses have taken the initiative to extend their working hours.

Intelvision’s Victoria branch for instance opens up to 4.45pm on weekdays and until noon on Saturday and Sunday to facilitate their clients.

The Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) has also extended its opening hours to 5pm on weekdays.

Lydia Charlie, the executive director in the Mayor’s office, is confident that Seychellois workers’ attitude to working beyond normal hours will soon have to adapt to a growing economy and innovation.

Victoria can be buzzing during working hours but after four or five in the afternoon the town slowly goes into a slumber