Employment Department

Minister Idith Alexander embarks on workplace visits

The Minister for Employment and Human Resource Planning, Ms. Idith Alexander, has undertaken her first official workplace visits since assuming office. Two tourism establishments - STORY Seychelles and Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino - were selected for the occasion.

During the visits, Minister Alexander engaged with staff both collectively and individually, followed by a tour of key departments within the two establishments. The ministerial delegation later held a debriefing session with senior management.

Employees raised several concerns, including qualified Seychellois being overlooked for senior positions in favour of expatriate workers, shortages of manpower in certain departments, ineffective management of absenteeism, issues surrounding recruitment procedures, amongst others.

Staff also called for a review of the Employment Act to allow private sector workers with five or more years of continuous service to receive their compensation every five years, rather than only at the end of their tenure.

In her discussions with staff and management, Minister Alexander emphasised that safeguarding workers’ rights remains a national priority. At the same time, she urged employees to respect employment laws and regulations to foster strong and harmonious relations with their employers.

The Ministry of Employment and Human Resource Planning reaffirmed its commitment to promoting fair and balanced workplace relations, particularly in the tourism sector, which continues to serve as the cornerstone of Seychelles’ economic development.

 

 

 

Minister Idith Alexander has begun a series of weekly workplace visits across the country. On Friday, 13 March 2026, she toured six farms in Au Cap and Anse Royale to identify challenges faced by farmers and promote agricultural development.

Her first stops were Simon Belle Farm and Phil’s Organic Farm in Au Cap, followed by visits to R-Farm, Jojo’s Farm, Geoffroy’s Farm, and Jacque Matombe’s Farm in Anse Royale. Minister Alexander was accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource Planning. The delegation inspected crops, storage facilities, and staff accommodations.

The farmers’ most pressing concern was the shortage of manpower, a persistent issue in the agricultural sector. They reported difficulties in hiring Seychellois workers, citing unreliability that disrupts operations. One farm also raised concerns about theft involving certain foreign workers. Retaining young farmers was another challenge, with calls for targeted strategies to encourage graduates from the Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (SIAH) to remain in the sector. Farmers further expressed frustration with the lengthy Gainful Occupation Permit (GOP) process, which they believe negatively impacts production.

Additional challenges included flooding on farmlands, poor-quality pesticides and fertilizers, crop diseases caused by pests, and difficulties in repaying loans. Despite these concerns, the delegation was encouraged by innovations at Geoffroy’s Farm, which is adopting eco-friendly practices. Owner, Mr. Jean-Paul Geoffroy has invested in modern equipment such as water filtration and storage systems, laboratory facilities for plant and seed samples, and hydroponics infrastructure. The farm has also employed a young agronomist from South Africa, Ms. Jancke van Wyk, to advise on soil health, disease prevention, and crop quality improvement.

Minister Alexander commended My Geffroy’s initiatives and stressed on the importance of innovation in sustainable farming. She urged all farmers to increase local production, especially in light of global uncertainties and reassured them of government’s commitment to support and empower them.

Issues raised during the visits will be taken into account when drafting future employment policies.

 

 

A large group of Human Resource Officers from the private sector attended the first HR Forum for 2026 organised by the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource Planning. The platform was established in September 2012 to discuss new policies and initiatives by government aimed at improving the capacity of HR Officers to serve their organisation effectively.

 

The half day forum held at AVANI+ in Barbarons consisted of presentations by senior officials of the ministry on several topics, including programmes and assistance available to jobseekers, 13th month pay, retirement age, upcoming revisions to the Employment Act, among others.

 

During her opening address, Minister Idith Alexander stated that the ministry has formulated an ambitious plan for the next 5 years, with focus on:

 

  • Policy development and legislative review to reflect evolving economic needs and align with new government’s strategy.
  • Human resource planning to ensure human resource development is aligned with current and future workforce needs.
  • Regulations and compliance to strengthen labour relations and ensure fair labour practices.
  • Youth employment to reduce unemployment rate through specific programmes.
  • Digital transformation to improve service delivery and management of information.
  • Stakeholder engagement for enhanced collaboration.
  • Staff retention to achieve continuity of service and career growth.

 

HR Officers actively engaged with senior officers of the ministry by seeking clarifications and offering valuable contributions aimed at fostering a fair working environment. The HR Forum will be held on a quarterly basis.

 

 

 

 

 

Ministry of Employment and Human Resource Planning

Press Release

Date: 13th February, 2026

Minister Idith Alexander attends Global Conference on Elimination of Child Labour

 

The Minister for Employment and Human Resource Planning, Ms. Idith Alexander, is leading a delegation at the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, being held in Marrakech, Morocco from 11th to 13th February, 2026.

The conference brings together representatives of governments, employers' and workers' organisations from the 187 ILO member states, as well civil society, regional and international organisations, the private sector, youth group actors and academia.

It aims to encourage participants to discuss the scourge of child labour, share national and regional experiences, identify plausible solutions, and agree on urgent and concrete actions to be undertaken to eliminate child labour globally.

Over the 3 day conference, aside from plenary sessions, there is also an Innovation Fair which provides participants via smaller, workshop-style sessions the opportunity to engage on topics of interest such as hazardous work for children and youth, post 2030 child labour target setting, investing in change: leveraging investments and the role of international financial institutions to end child labour in agriculture, amongst other topics.

As of January 2026, Seychelles, does not have any recorded cases of child labour. This is due to the fact that there are mechanisms in place and laws have been enacted that prohibit and punish child exploitation. The country has ratified the Abolition of Force Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105); the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182); and the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

The Ministry's participation at the Global Conference offers the opportunity to be apprised of the experiences of various countries, mechanisms used to identify and detect under reported cases of child labour exploitation and best practices employed to address the issue of child labour.

The other members of the Seychelles delegation are Principal Secretary for Labour Relations and Regulations, Mr. Steve Monnaie and the Senior Employment Officer, Ms. Pharisianne Lucas.

ILO Country Office Director Mr. Frederick Muia meets with senior officials of Employment Department

 

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Office Director for Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, Mr. Frederick Muia, met with officials of Employment Department on Tuesday 15th April 2025. The meeting was held with  Chief Policy Analyst, Ms. Susan Morel, Principal Planning Officer, Mr. Mario Dupres, and Senior Cooperation Officer, Ms. Elaine Naiken.

Mr. Muia’s discussions with the Department centered on the upcoming ILO led Ministerial Round Table, regrouping the Ministers of labour and employment of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) for which the organisation counts on the Ministry’s support. Ms. Morel on her part highlighted progress of activities undertaken as part of the 2nd Generation of the Seychelles Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) in collaboration with the ILO which will come to an end in December 2025 and key agenda of the upcoming 113th Session of the International Labour Conference.

Mr. Muia expressed his deep satisfaction with work being undertaken by the Employment Department, the tangible progress made and anticipates continued and fruitful collaboration. Ms. Morel also expressed the sincere gratitude of the Department to the Director for assistance provided by the ILO and reassured of the Department’s unwavering support.

Mr. Muia was in Seychelles, attending the 39th Meeting of Council of Ministers of Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), held from 14th to 17th April.

THE MINSITRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT

 

INVITATION TO TENDER

 

The Employment Department of the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs invites tenders to bid for the Procurement of One (1) Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

                                                                                                                                             

Source of Finance: The Employment Department

 

Project Title: Procurement of One (1) Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)

 

Eligibility: The following are eligible to tender on equal terms. All licensed Motor Vehicle dealers operating in Seychelles.

 

Subject: The vehicle is to be used by the Labour Inspectorate Section within the Employment Department, in the delivery of its functions that has to do with monitoring and enforcement.

                                                 

Period of Delivery: Within Three (3) months from the date of confirmation of award     

 

Access to tender Dossier: Tender Dossiers can be obtained at the Employment Department, Independence House Annex Building, 4th Floor, Victoria, or via email from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as of Monday 14th October 2024 to Friday18th October 2024 from 09:00 a.m. to 03:00 p.m.

 

 

Note: The tender dossier is available for free for all interested bidders.

 

Submission of Tenders:

 

TENDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL TENDER BOARD (NTB) SECRETARIAT BY ACCESSING THE PORTAL https://www.ntb.sc/tenders/em-p-procurement-of-one-1-sport-utility-vehicle-suv

WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON THE NTB’s WEBSITE NOT LATER THAN 1100HRS (SEYCHELLES TIME) ON MONDAY 28TH OCTOBER, 2024. BIDDERS ARE REQUESTED TO CLEARLY STATE THE PROJECT TITLE “PROCUREMENT OF ONE (1) SPORT UNTILITY VEHICLE (SUV) FOR THE EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT” IN THE EMAIL SUBJECT. TENDERS WILL BE OPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLOSING AT 1100HRS (SEYCHELLES TIME) AT THE NATIONAL TENDER BOARD (NTB) SECRETARIAT, ATTIC FLOOR, CARE HOUSE.  

BIDDERS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVE (S) ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE TENDER OPENING SESSION.

 

ANY BID RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL BE RETURNED UNOPENED TO THE BIDDER AND WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

 

Interested bidders can also view this notice on www.pou.gov.sc or www.ntb.sc

 

All enquiries regarding the tender, please contact

The Director General, Labour Relations Division, Employment Department, Independence House Annex, 4th Floor, Mahe, Seychelles

Tel: 4297218, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

The Technical Specialist on Blue Economy and Green Jobs at the International Labour Organisation, Mr. Fayçal Boureima, has on 5th – 6th February 2024 conducted a Validation Workshop on A Rapid Skills Assessment conducted in regards to the Circular Economy.  

The Report is part of a Joint Programme supported by the ILO to advance Seychelles’ green and blue economy agenda, specifically the Circular Economy so as to drive sustainable growth and job creation.

As such the report seeks to assess the current and emerging skills supply and demand for the circular economy in Seychelles. Furthermore, while the report acknowledges that Seychelles is committed to waste management through recycling and the development of the circular economy, this should also be supported with skills and human resource planning to further enable the implementation of the country’s ambitions

Circular Economy is a model for sustainability in resource use and consumption and is founded on the produce-use-service-reuse principle. One of its principles is to rely more on reuse, repair, and recycling while reducing the extraction of raw materials.

Participants also developed a roadmap for the establishment and institutionalization of a social dialogue mechanism on Just Transition to a circular and blue economy. They also validated a project proposal on the subject with special attention to skills development.

The two-day validation workshop held at Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort and Casino brought together tripartite participation of both Government, Employers’ and Workers’ Union.

Mr. Fayçal Boureima, also paid a courtesy call on the Director General of Labour Relations at the Employment Department, Mr. Steve Monnaie on Wednesday 6th February to brief him about the outcomes of his working visit to the country, especially in regards to the importance of social dialogue in moving forward.

In concluding his mission, Mr. Boureima and officials from the Employment Department, met with Ms. Kim Samy, Programme Development Officer of the Department of Blue Economy who provided a brief overview of the work undertaken thus far in regards to the development of the circular economy.

Mr. Boureima, on the other hand provided insight on possible assistance the ILO can provide to the country in furthering circular economy in Seychelles.

 

 

The Employment Department recently met with stakeholders to validate the draft state party report on the United Nations Convention ‘protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families’ at the Department’s conference room.

The Convention was ratified by Seychelles in 1994 and initial state party report was submitted in 2015.

The validation focused on responding to the list of issues prior to reporting raised by the Convention’s Committee. Participants had the opportunity to provide additional information, clarify existing laws, policies and practices of their respective organization and provide statistics related to migration.

It was noted that migrant workers represent an important component of the Seychelles employed population due to labour demand and skills shortages. Notable achievements have been made during the reporting period to protect the rights of migrant workers and facilitate their social integration.

Seychellois residing abroad (diaspora) has also been further recognized. It is anticipated that further domestication will be carried out in terms of promotion of the Convention, finalization of national legislation, addressing data gaps and enforcement of human rights.

 

 

 

 

 

Â