As part of the new normal in relation to the post COVID-19 pandemic regarding health restrictions in place, especially social distancing, the Ministry of Employment, Immigration and Civil Status has taken necessary steps to control the inflow of people coming for services among others.

The Customer Service Centre, based on the ground floor of Independence House and ran by the department of Immigration and Civil Status, is, as of yesterday, allowing only twelve clients at any one time inside the centre to seek assistance.

The principal secretary for Immigration and Civil Status, Alain Volcère, said that it was necessary to make changes in view of the many people that visit the centre on a daily basis, so as to comply with the health regulations still in place.

Apart from the limit on the number of clients at any one time inside the centre, other changes include the setting up of perplex barrier separation between the service provider and the client.

Firstly, he explained, the clients on the outside are encouraged to follow social distancing through standing on markings on the ground. The first twelve clients, standing one metre apart, has to one by one enter their names in the log book upon entering, sanitise their hands with the given hand sanitisers, before proceeding to their respective call of services.

PS Volcère noted that among the different services offered, the birth registration will operate on given appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only. Application and issuing of passports, permits – work permits (GOP), student, visitors, issuance of ID cards, wedding registration and re-issuance of birth/death/marriage certificates, remains the same.

He said that it was decided to have birth registration through appointments for better control inside the centre as this activity always carry large groups, including parents, witnesses, etc..

He added that the centre has advised parents that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic to refrain from bringing their child with them for registration.

PS Volcère said that after every one and a half hours, the centre will be closed down for ten minutes or so for disinfection.

He called on clients coming to the centre to respect the social distancing regulation, something which is not quite being observed, he noted, also at other service providers.

The Customer Service Centre, which also has cashing counters, sees around 400 to 500 people on a daily basis. It opens from 8.30am to 4pm.

As for the employment services, the number of people limited inside the centres, divided on 4th and 5th floors of Independence House and one office based at Oceangate House, is now four clients at any one time.

According to the director general for Labour Relations, Steve Monnaie, the limitations also include centres based on Praslin and La Digue where perplex barrier separations have also been installed to separate the service providers and clients among other hygiene and sanitation measures for both clients and staff.

He noted in some cases, such as in grievance or redundancy consultation meetings, which involves large groups, to as much as possible hold those meetings at the work places thus avoiding the large groups coming down to the employment department.

Services being offered by the employment department include work related complaints, grievances, non-Seychellois/employment application/contract attestation, Skills Development Programme (SDP), My First Job (MFJ) and Unemployment Relief Scheme (office based at Oceangate House). The department opens from 8am to 4pm.

Patrick Joubert