Bangladeshi workers to be recruited through approved agencies |22 October 2019
Minister Telemaque and Minister Ahmad sign the agreement
Seychellois employers will now have to recruit Bangladeshi workers through only two approved recruitment agencies in Bangladesh.
This follows the signing of a labour agreement between the Republic of Seychelles and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, which seeks to ensure protection of the rights of Bangladeshi workers in employment in Seychelles.
The agreement was officially signed yesterday afternoon on behalf of the Republic of Seychelles by the Minister for Employment, Immigration and Civil Status, Myriam Telemaque and by the Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Minister Iman Ahmad.
The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the presence of the principal secretary for Employment Jules Baker, the principal secretary for Immigration and Civil Status Alain Volcère, the principal secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr Marina Confait, senior ministry officials from the department of Foreign Affairs, members of the executive team at the Ministry of Employment, lmmigration and Civil Status and the delegation from Bangladesh.
This is the first labour agreement between Seychelles and Bangladesh and it will be for a period of four years, renewable. It also stipulates the recruitment of skilled workers rather than the usual un-skilled workers as recruited in the past.
In her address, Minister Telemaque said that the signing of the agreement serves to emphasise the mutual interest of both governments to ensure the protection of the rights of the Bangladeshi workers, their welfare and good working and living conditions while in employment here.
She further said that it will enable ethical recruitment practices and clearly establish the obligations of Seychellois employers, Bangladeshi workers and the authorities in both countries.
Minister Telemaque stated that the signing of the labour agreement will remove the moratorium on recruitment of Bangladeshi workers, introduced in October 2018.
At the end of August 2019, the number of Bangladeshi workers in Seychelles was 1620. With the removal of the moratorium, it is expected that the number of Bangladeshi workers recruited by employers in Seychelles will surely increase.
Minister Telemaque explained that the provisions under the agreement will ensure that:
- employers in the Republic of Seychelles source for Bangladeshi workers only through the two designated authorities in Bangladesh, namely the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Ltd (BOESL) and the Bureau of Manpower Employment Training (BMET),
- the contact details of the designated authorities for recruitment has been communicated to the employers in Seychelles through written media and the Ministry of Employment, lmmigration and Civil Status will give further assistance to Bangladesh,
- the specified recruitment employment agencies and/or competent authority in Bangladesh in turn shall ensure that the workers are skilled and qualified for the post,
- employment contracts are signed by the workers, attested and they are aware and understand their terms and conditions of their contract prior to their departure from Bangladesh;
- the workers are well-prepared, speak basic English and have knowledge on the life, laws and culture of Seychelles.
“The provisions are important so that we as government ensure the protection of the rights of the Bangladeshi workers coming to work in Seychelles and also protection of the employers in Seychelles. I would like to thank the businesses and the workers for their understanding and cooperation while waiting for the signing and removal of the moratorium,” Minister Telemaque added.
Minister Telemaque noted that her ministry will look to enhance collaboration with its partners in order to ensure that all concerned recognise the importance of ethical labour standards in recruitment and their role in the process.
“Seychelles remains committed towards fair treatment of all workers in Seychelles, regardless of their nationality and it is anticipated that the agreement will create favourable environment for better preparation of Bangladeshi nationals coming to work in Seychelles,” Minister Telemaque said.
The labour agreement came into being after several negotiations between both parties following several incidents of mistreatment of Bangladeshi workers by employers in Seychelles in 2018.
For his part, Minister Ahmad, who was leading a six-member delegation, including the Bangladeshi ambassador to Seychelles, Rezina Ahmed, said that the day was a happy day for his delegation as all possible problems regarding labour recruitment will be left behind.
Minister Ahmad noted that through further collaboration and continuous interactions by both parties on matters arisen will now see problems be solved more quickly. He reiterated his country’s support towards the agreement.
“Today we’ve gone one step forward and I feel that this is a win-win situation for both our country’s and the more we interact the more win-win we will make it,” Minister Ahmad said, noting that his country is prepared to provide skilled workers in any required field to help in the development of our country.