SFWU PRESS COMUNIQUE
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DECENT WORK
7TH OCTOBER 2008

The Seychelles Federation of Workers commemorated the World Day of Decent Work on the 7th October 2008 in conviction and in style A half day workshop was organized by the Federated Unions and saw the participation of the Ministry of Employment and Human Resources and the Federation of the Employers Association.

Mr. Antoine Robinson the Secretary General of the Federation Highlighted in his opening speech said that the conference was ” in perspective to the plan of action of the International trade Union Confederation for member organizations, of which the Seychelles Federation of Workers Union’s is party to” as well as the fact that it was “The SFWU’s contribution and input to the I.L.O Agenda of Decent work, adopted by mostly all stakeholders…. fervently supported by the I.T.U.C”

Mr. Robinson went on to solemnly declare the commitment of the Federation to uphold the principles of decent work as an organizing concept and working tool in an overall framework for action in Social Development.

The Secretary General made a call to all stakeholders to fully utilize and justly reward the valuable resource and devoted workers of the Seychelles. He emphasized the importance of Labour laws in the implementation of the Decent Work Agenda particularly in the context of the National Economy and advocated that labor laws, policies and their implementing legislation would have to adapt to more open and competitive markets.

With regards to Social Protection, Mr. Robinson said that “without social protection, neither work nor lives can be decent. Our Social protection needs to further protect workers at their workplaces from unjust, hazardous and unhealthy working conditions ….and maintain access to health services and social safety nets for people whose income puts them beneath the subsistence level”

The secretary General emphasized the importance of Dialogue and reminded the conference that conflicts arise when weaker parties sees their rights blatantly violated and little or no action taken to instill justice. He went on to say that “the ILO tripartite policy of governments, employers and workers should not become a dichotomy of division; it should rather incorporate ’real world’ knowledge about employment and work, and help realize that we ultimately are all workers. “

Mr. Robinson concluded with an appeal to all stakeholders to unite behind the Noble concept and theme of Decent Work which if applied would undoubtedly advance Gods wish to see all men live a prosperous and happy life.

The conference concluded with the following recommendations being.

1. The Seychelles Federation of Workers Union has to organize with support of the ILO and ITUC four full day workshops to study the implementation of the four strategic Objectives of Decent as soon as possible, the first before the end of 2008.

2. That Government pursues the policy of localization of posts occupied by foreigners, and empower Seychellois to be more committed towards their work

3. That the Government reviews the Tourism Industry to look at working conditions of

4. The government should encourage social dialogue before making structural economic changes impacting on the families and lives of workers.

5. Government has to ensure that oncoming Tax increase on bank interest should be targeted on individuals with high earnings and not across the board to affecting low income earners.

6. Government should consider more equitable salary increase strategies for the public sector as high government officials are given preferential treatment over more vulnerable low wage earners. The Seychelles Federation will now work towards the realization of the listed recommendations with the relevant stakeholders at both national and international level.

SFWU Consultancy
October 2008

Speech of SFWU General Secretary

Distinguished Guests.
Esteemed participants.

Good Morning
Let me firstly warmly welcome you all, to this very important conference and brainstorming on Decent Work commemorating the World Day of Decent Work celebrated on the 7th October.

This conference is an activity originating from three perspectives. Firstly it is in perspective to the plan of action of the International trade Union Confederation (ITUC) for member organizations, of which the Seychelles Federation of Workers Union’s is party to.

A world wide campaign was launched in January 2007 by the decent work alliance comprised of the ITUC, ETUC, Solidar, Global Progressive forum and Social Alert International, placing Decent Work at the core of development, economic, trade, financial and social policies at the National, regional and International Level.

Secondly it is The Seychelles Federation of Workers Union’s contribution and input to the International Labour Organization Agenda of Decent work, adopted by mostly all stakeholders and fervently supported by the International trade Union Confederation. In October 2007 before the big ILO conference on Decent Work, the Decent Life alliance organized a pre event with Key decision makers from national governments and International Institutions with a call to action on seven demands being;

1. Decent work: Reaffirm the contribution stable and quality jobs make to a healthy economy and just and equal communities and ensure the right to adequate living wages.

2. Rights: Ensure workers’ rights to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively with their employers.

3. Social Protection: Strengthen and broaden social protection coverage by ensuring access to pensions, unemployment benefits, maternity protection, and quality health care to all.

4. Trade: Change unfair trade rules and ensure that trade agreements are used as an instrument for decent work.

5. Debt: Ensure that the priorities of the international financial institutions incorporate social concerns.

6. Aid: Ensure that governments keep their commitment to increase the level of official development aid of rich countries to at least 0, 7 % of Gross Domestic Product.

7. Migration: Ensure that migrant workers are not exploited and that they enjoy the same rights as other workers.

Thirdly it is a perfect integration of the National Theme of our Constitution as it stands as benchmark to our integrated commitments.

Ladies and Gentlemen!, on this day, the International Day of Decent Work, the 7th October 2007, I on behalf of the SFWU and its member unions, pledge our unconditional support and systematic commitment to the seven calls of action for the Decent Work agenda. Distinguished Guests, our first call, our most valuable resource, the devoted and hard work of the women and men of Seychelles need to be fully utilized and justly rewarded! This places a great responsibility and accountability on the roles and functions of all our Social Partners. On our part we put a few questions to the dialogue table.

• Is the revised and endorsed National Employment Policy considered in the planning and economic restructuring process?
• Do the macro-economic sectoral policies balance investment and growth with the imperatives of productive and remunerative generation?
• How is the gender issue in unemployment addressed?
• Have the serious economic consequences of our prevailing social ails been truthfully understood?

Friends, central to the implementation of the Decent Work Agenda is the future role of our labor legislation, particularly in the context of our National Economy. In recent and current debates on the status of labor laws, it has become clear that the labor laws and policies and their implementing legislation will have to adapt to more open and competitive markets.

Non the less the SFWU will never agree to deviate from, nor betray the social philosophy which has served as optimal balance between the legal protection for the Seychellois workers on one hand and the economic competitiveness and employment creation on the other. This is the reason why we give our full support to the Governments setting up of the forthcoming labor tribunal.

None the less the federation is very unhappy at certain manipulative attitude of employers at keeping the union out of the workplace by refusing to sign recognition and check off agreements though its prerequisites are clearly set out in the Industrial relations act. This fight we are determined to take to all levels with the support of our international partners to ensure the protection of workers. A few more questions to this conference would be...

• Are our existing labor laws in conformity to the revolutionary changes to take place in Labour relations?
• Is our philosophy of social protection the bedrock of our political stability reflected in our laws?
• Are the Labour laws of Seychelles in line with ratified ILO Conventions, the bible of decent work?

Ladies and Gentlemen, Social protection should be a critical and indispensable component of our overall decent work strategy. Without social protection, neither work nor lives can be decent. Our Social protection needs to further protect workers at their workplaces from unjust, hazardous and unhealthy working conditions.

We should maintain access to health services and social safety nets for people whose income puts them beneath the subsistence level. The Ministry needs to speed up the Decent Work national committee and the Decent Work Country Program. Whilst we salute the HIV/AIDS workplace committee, we urge the finalization of the setting up of the committee to serve as stepping stone to access the Government to funding for HIV/AIDS workplace program.

While everybody needs social protection some groups are particularly becoming more vulnerable and disadvantaged. We henceforth ask:

• Is our Social Security Act up to date and furbished with the required stalwarts to ride the coming storm?
• Is our Occupational Safety and Health Standards legislations up to standards.

The SFWU believes the main challenge is to ensure that our labor policies and laws are applied and respected. As can be seen from the world stage, conflicts arise when a weaker party sees his rights blatantly violated and little or no action taken to instill justice The ILO “tripartite policy” of governments, employers and workers should not become a dichotomy of division; it should rather incorporate ’real world’ knowledge about employment and work, and help realize that we ultimately are all workers.

The SFWU concludes with an appeal to all stakeholders to unite behind this Noble concept and theme which if applied will undoubtedly advance Gods wish to see all men live a prosperous and happy life.

Thank you for your attention.

Article from the Seychellois Press on the World Day

The Seychelles Federation of Workers Unions (SFWU) is please to present its activity to commemorate the World Day for Decent Work - October 7 2008.

For this grand occasion the SFWU is organising a National Tripartied conference on the following theme: "Call to Action for Decent Work, Decent Life".

We have chosen this theme as its encapsulates the Seychellois philosophy and commitment of people centered and sustainable development. For thus, we are also assured that the Decent Work agenda is the platform from which Seychelles is to launch to sail through the economic challenges blown towards us from the global village.

We thus propose that the Ministry of Employment to present a paper on the aspects of Decent Work from the government’s perspective on employment and labour.The SFWU will present on the unions perspective to the challenges of Decent Work. The conference will also be addressed by the Employers Federation of Seychelles.