Financial Assistance for Job Retention (FA4JR) due to COVID-19 |30 March 2020
Maximum wage limit to be covered capped at R30,000 instead of R45,450
- Minimum wage limit set at R5,804
The Financial Assistance for Job Retention (FA4JR) Committee has outlined the procedures for private sector employees to be assisted under the economic stimulus package announced by the government due to the negative impact on our businesses caused by COVID-19.
The secretary of state for Finance, Trade and Investment, Patrick Payet, who is also the chairman of the committee, and Olivier Bastienne, chairperson of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and also member of this committee, met the press in a live conference yesterday at the ICCS to talk about the procedures.
As of today private businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which receive their funding directly through some tourism establishments with proper payrolls and sole traders who are registered with the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) can submit their claim to the committee for their three-month salaries – April to June 2020. The forms are also available online and in all the 26 district administration offices as from tomorrow for employers. For any inquiries, the public can call on their hotline number 2828262 for further assistance.
SS Payet also announced that the committee has reviewed downwards the capping on salary payment from R45,450 as previously announced to R30,000. People who cannot prove their revenue will benefit from minimum wage which is R5,804.
SS Payet noted that “definitely this year we will register a deficit. Globally the whole world long-term forecast is not good. When we did the assessment payroll of the private sector it comes to approximately R420 million per month. The private sector is the biggest employee in Seychelles. If all these companies come forward to ask for assistance it will come to approximately R1.2 billion. But we also have a few sectors that we think will not come forward to apply for this aid such as financial sector and insurance companies (R36.6 million) based on their financial reports. The construction sector turns around R44 million per month; information and telecommunication sector turns around R16 million; manufacturing around R52 million; wholesale and retail around R23 million and the tourism sector turns around R195 million.
SS Payet also announced that those gainful occupation permit (GOP) holders who are overseas will not benefit from this assistance and casual workers with pay slip will be covered whereas ‘informal’ workers has to go to the Agency for Social Protection (ASP) for assistance.
Mr Bastienne noted that although he is on the committee he has some reservations on the capacity to handle the whole issue. “But the private sector, the motor of the economy, at this moment needs this assistance. We all have a moral obligation; if you do not need this support, please do not ask for it. It will have a positive impact on the economy in the long run.”
Financial Assistance for Job Retention (FA4JR)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the aim of the scheme?
President Danny Faure announced on March 20th, 2020 that the Seychelles Government would
budget funds to help retain jobs in private sector businesses that are suffering significant
negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Financial Assistance for Job Retention
(FA4JR) Committee was thus set up to help businesses pay the salaries of their employees for
the months of April, May and June 2020.
2. Who is eligible to receive benefits under this scheme?
The scheme is primarily intended to assist private businesses and non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) which already submit a monthly payroll to the Seychelles Revenue
Commission (SRC), regardless of how many employees they have.
However, it is important to note that applicants must be able to meet all of the following criteria:
● Be able to explain how COVID-19 has caused significant disruption to its business
activity
● Prove a reduction in turnover of more than 25%
● Be temporarily unable to pay normal salaries
● Agree that no staff are to be made redundant
3. If I am self-employed or run a licensed business, do I qualify for Salary Assistance?
Self-employed sole traders registered with the SRC for tax and those whose businesses are
officially licensed under a regulatory framework (e.g. SLA, IECD or any other formal
associations) will be able to apply for support under the FA4JR scheme.
4. What provision has been made for casual workers?
This scheme covers casual workers who are on a business payroll and those individuals who
have registered as business, sole trader or partnership or are licensed in any other form (see
question 3 above).
5. Who should apply for the assistance?
Business owners or employers can apply for assistance, NOT employees. If you are neither a
business owner, an employer, or an employee, see question 4 above to see whether you are
eligible to apply.
6. How does the application process work?
Step 1: Choose the correct application form.
Form 1 - for business owners with one or more employees on a payroll
Form 2 - for self-employed business owners seeking financial assistance
Step 2: Download/collect your form .
All application forms are available for download on the Ministry of Finance, Trade, Investment
and Economic Planning (MoFTIEP) website under the “ Financial Schemes ” section (see top of
page)
From Tuesday 31st March 2020, hard-copy forms will also be made available for collection from
any of the following locations during normal office hours (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm):
● Ministry of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, Liberty House, Victoria
(ground floor at Security)
● Ministry of Employment, Immigration and Civil Status, Independence House, Victoria
● Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) offices at Providence Industrial
Estate
● All District Administration (DA) offices in all districts around Mahe, Praslin and La Digue
Step 2: Call the Hotline for assistance
If businesses require any assistance filling in the form, they are advised to call the FA4JR
Hotline on 2 82 82 62 (Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm). Due to the most recent social
distancing guidelines provided by the public health authorities in relation to the COVID-19
pandemic, face-to-face interaction with the public will be limited. In the event that there are
issues that cannot be resolved over the phone, an appointment will be arranged.
Step 3: Submit your application
Via email: Submit your signed and scanned application form with supporting electronic
documents to fa4jr@finance.gov.sc
Via collection box: submit your hard copy documents in a SEALED envelope addressed to the
Financial Assistance for Job Retention Committee, Liberty House, Victoria into any designated
FA4JR collection box which can be found in the following locations:
● Ministry of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, Liberty House, Victoria
(ground floor at Security)
● All District Administration (DA) offices in all the districts around Mahe, Praslin and La
Digue
At the point of completing/submitting the application form, our team members will not be able to
comment on eligibility or the extent of assistance that may be provided. The level of assistance
is determined once the Committee has reviewed the full application form (with all the required
documentation provided).
Step 4: Your application is processed
The administration team will log all new applications received and begin the process and
verification stage. You will be notified via email once the FA4JR team receives your application.
If you have not received an email within 5 working days, please call the FA4JR Hotline on 2 82
82 62. Should there be any supporting documents missing or additional information required,
the applicant will be contacted directly via email or telephone.
Step 5: A decision is made
Your form and documentation will be passed on to the FA4JR Committee, which will review your
application in conjunction with the documents you have provided. Based on the established
criteria, a decision will be made. You will be informed of the decision via email, advising you of
the next steps.
7. What kind of documentation will I need to provide with my application?
This depends on which type of assistance is being applied for: Form 1 (payroll assistance for
employees) or Form 2 (financial assistance for the self-employed). Please see Question 2 for
more details.
A full list of the supporting documents is available at the bottom of each application form.
8. Do I have to apply every month for the assistance?
Yes, the application form and the updated supporting information will need to be resubmitted
and reassessed each month.
9. Is there a minimum or maximum salary covered by the FA4JR scheme?
Once approved by the Committee, assistance can cover employees earning anything from the
minimum wage up to a maximum limit of SR 30,000 per month.
10. What if the assistance does not cover my whole payroll?
A credit line will also be made available through the commercial banks from the Central Bank of
Seychelles (CBS) for additional loans to assist businesses with liquidity difficulties during this
period. Businesses will need to contact their banks directly to discuss the appropriate financial
11. What is the deadline for applications?
Businesses have until the last working day of each month to submit their final application and all
supporting documents. Applicants should bear in mind that payments will not be made
immediately after your submission. See question 12 below for the expected time lag between
submission and payment.
12. How long will it take to decide whether the application is approved or not?
You will be notified by email the day your application has been received by the administration
team. From that day onwards, provided all supporting documents have been received, the
following times are indicated for a final decision to be reached:
Form 1 (employee payroll assistance): 10 working days
Form 2 (financial assistance for the self-employed): 15 working days
13. If I am not happy with the decision taken, can I appeal?
If you are unsatisfied with the decision taken, a letter of appeal should be written and submitted
via email to fa4jr.appeals@finance.gov.sc within 5 working days of receiving the decision letter.
Appeals will be considered by a committee comprising individuals who are not on the FA4JR
Committee
14. What will happen if my business is affected financially for more than 3 months and I
still need assistance to pay my staff?
This measure has been put in place in order to alleviate the immediate impact of the COVID-19
global pandemic on businesses in Seychelles. With the uncertainty relating to the progress of
this pandemic (domestically and internationally), these measures are under constant review and
15. Whose account will the funds be deposited into?
The funds will be disbursed directly into the employer’s (or self-employed) business account.
16. Who will know that my company received assistance?
The full list of businesses and organisations that received assistance will be published in the
public domain after the assistance period is over.
17. What employee payroll contributions and taxes will employers still be liable for while
receiving this assistance ?
Employers are expected to pay the salaries of the employees in line with the submitted payroll.
Contributions such as Personal Income Tax and Pension Fund is expected to be paid in the
same manner and to the same level as employers did before the FA4JR assistance was being
granted. Kindly visit (https://pensionfund.sc/) for more information on mandatory employer
contributions to the Seychelles Pension Fund.
18. What types of employee allowances will be covered under this salary payment
scheme?
Only fixed allowances will be paid by the government assistance. Periodic allowances and
commissions that vary month-on-month (e.g. service charge) will not be covered.
19. If an individual has a business and has been adversely affected by the COVID 19 and
getting paid through another income, will the financial assistance be applicable to
him/her?
Self-employed applicants applying for business assistance under Form 2 will not be eligible if
they are also in full-time or regular employment (i.e. on another company’s payroll). The FA4JR
scheme will assist each individual based on a single salary from one business entity. Other
types of income will be reviewed and assessed on a case-by-case basis.
20. Do I have to visit the commercial banks to request bank statements?
The bank statement has been identified as an important supporting document to substantiate
the validity of applications. Applicants are encouraged to opt to receive electronic statements
through their banks’ online banking platforms. Nevertheless, applicants may direct their request
for bank statements as follows:
Bank Email Tel
Nouvobanq Chantal@nouvobanq.sc 4293000
MCB (mention COVID-19) contact@mcbseychelles.com 4282600
Seychelles Credit Union Annarita@scu.sc 4290109
Al Salam bank enquiries@alsalamseychelles.com 4385600
Bank of Ceylon itmseychelles@boc.lk 4611890
SBM SBMSeychelles@sbmgroup.mu 4303356/
4303351
Seychelles Commercial
Bank Victoria
queries.victoria.branch@scb.sc 4294062
Seychelles Commercial
Bank AAP
queries.anseauxpins.branch@scb.sc 4294111
Seychelles Commercial
Bank Praslin
queries.praslin.branch@scb.sc 4294130
Seychelles Commercial
Bank La Digue
queries.ladigue.branch@scb.sc 4294142
Seychelles Commercial
Bank Providence
queries.providence.branch@scb.sc 4294118 /
4294040
Seychelles Commercial
Bank Corporate
queries.corporate.branch@scb.sc 4294040
Bank of Baroda operations@@bankofbaroda.com/
seyche@bankofbaroda
4618011/
4618002
ABSA Seychelles To be confirmed
Clients should specify the period for which they require the bank statement. Once the document
is ready for collection, the bank will contact the client either through email or phone. Upon
collection at the bank, the client will be required to show proof of identity e.g. national identity
21. If I still have questions, how do I get in touch?
Call the FA4JR Hotline on 2 82 82 62 for advice or email your query to fa4jr@finance.gov.sc