Minister Myriam Telemaque at the Centenary Conference of the International Labour Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland |17 June 2019

Minister Telemaque addressing the conference

Minister commends ILO on improving workers’ rights

Employment, Immigration and Civil Status Minister Myriam Telemaque has commended the International Labour Organisation for its dedication in improving workers’ rights, promoting social justice, social protection and eliminating discrimination at work over the last 100 years.

Minister Telemaque said this in her address last Thursday at the Centenary Conference of the International Labour Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland.

She is heading a tripartite delegation from Seychelles at the 108th session of the International Labour Conference, which is also commemorating the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland from June 10-21, 2019.

In her speech, Minister Telemaqueemphasised on the need to ensure afair and sustainable transition towards a future of work being transformed by technological advancements and climate change.

“I call on all member states to acknowledge the successes of the only United Nations Tripartite Organisation, which has delivered a social contract that advocates a human-centred approach in the future of work,” said Minister Telemaque.

She added: “This approach is a bold vision that seeks to transform the world of work for the present and future generations. There is legitimate recognition that technological advances will create new forms of jobs but we must ensure that actions are taken to mitigate the negative impact on our workers.”

The minister stated that for Seychelles, the future of work is represented by the Blue economy and the government is committed to promoting this initiative in international fora, especially following the African Regional Island States meeting organised by the ILO and hosted by Seychelles in May this year.

The other members of the Seychelles delegation attending the ILO conference are employment principal secretary Jules Baker; special advisor Veronique Bresson; chief policy analyst Susan Morel; secretary general of the Seychelles Federation of Workers’ Union, Antoine Robinson; executive secretary of the General Employers Trade Union of Seychelles Tina Hoarau; and secretary of the Association of Seychelles Employers Iouna Pillay.

The ILO was founded in 1919 in the wake of a destructive war. The organisation shares a special place in the history of Seychelles. The values of the ILO have guided the setting up of Seychelles’ labour administration system. Seychelles became a member of the ILO in 1977, soon after in 1978 it ratified 18 ILO Conventions.

In May this year, Seychelles hosted a group of regional African island states, in partnership with the ILO, to discuss just transitions towards a sustainable future of work and the Blue economy.

The meeting agreed on four programmatic building blocks. These are: developing approaches to better integrate youth and strengthen investment in the Blue economy, ensuring fair labour migration and promoting transition from informal to the formal economy.

The government of Seychelles is committed to spearheading the promotion of this agenda in all regional and international fora.