Stakeholders discuss employment post-June, post Covid-19 |18 May 2020
President Danny Faure on Saturday chaired the first meeting with key stakeholders concerned with employment-related matters as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meet, held at State House, was attended by Attorney General Frank Ally, Minister for Employment, Immigration and Civil Status Myriam Telemaque, secretary-general of the Seychelles Federation Workers Union (SFWU) Antoine Robinson and representatives of the private sector.
Its aim was to bring together different stakeholders to strategise on the way forward as from the end of June, when the Financial Assistance for Job Retention (FA4JR) scheme, which guarantees salary payments for employees and self-employed individuals, comes to a halt.
Furthermore, the meeting presented an opportunity for stakeholders from both government and the private sector to come together to discuss and work out possible amendments proposed to the Employment Act, ahead of the Ministry of Employment’s reappearance in the National Assembly this week, after members last week voted to adjourn debate on the proposed amendments and strongly contended the amendments as favouring employees over private sector employers.
Special advisor to the Minister for Employment, Veronique Bresson, noted that the meeting is but the first in a series of meetings until a strategy is finalised to address employment related matters.
She noted that the bill which was last week deferred by the National Assembly prompted the ministry to hold consultations with both employees and employers so as to come to a consensus and a modified version will be tabled before the assembly on Tuesday.
“For the first time in many years, our employment situation is reversed. We have always had more job opportunities that persons seeking jobs but now things are reversed. Now we have more persons seeking jobs than there are jobs on the market,” Ms Bresson noted.
“There are certain arrangements which are being discussed but things look positive and the government is serious about the current situation in the country. President Danny Faure has made that clear. It comes down to achieving a balance between the rights and interests of employees and those of employers, while being mindful that the employee has less bargaining power than employers. Government’s role is to ensure that this balance is maintained so in future we do not find ourselves in a situation where in terms of the economy, our economy worsens,” Ms Bresson stated, noting the government’s commitment to ensuring as many people as possible are in employment.
Representatives furthering workers’ rights and those of the private sector also echoed similar sentiments that the meeting was indeed fruitful and geared towards solutions that respect the rights and interests of both parties.
“I believe the positions of all the parties have been made clear before and the key element here is pertaining to the discussion which is centred around fairness, respect, balance, respecting of rights and all these elements are being discussed, in looking at the national agenda, which is the most pertinent aspect,” stated the chairperson of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oliver Bastienne.
Among some points of discussion were whether hard-hit sectors such as tourism would be able to afford to pay employees post June, as it looks unlikely that the travel industry will bounce back in the wake of the pandemic.
The second meeting with President Faure is scheduled for Thursday.