On Tuesday 19th September 2023, the International Affairs Committee (IAC), led by Chairperson Hon. Waven William, met with a delegation from the Department of Employment to discuss the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention concerning decent work for domestic workers and its ratification. The review on Conventions and other international instruments is a procedure the IAC routinely undergoes, which produces a report used by the House in debates on ratification and accession. Accompanying Hon. William was the Vice-Chairperson Hon. Wavel Woodcock, Hon. Philip Monthy, Hon. Egbert Aglae, Hon. Kelly Samynadin, Hon. Phillip Arissol, the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Ms. Alexandria Faure, Committee Secretary Ms. Emma Didon, and Assistant Committee Secretary Mr. Darel Atala. The Employment delegation comprised of Chief Policy Analyst Ms. Susan Morel, the Director General of Labour Migration Mrs. Tara Diallo, and the Director of Industrial Relations Ms. Alda Aumeeruddy.
The meeting began with a brief presentation and breakdown of the convention by Ms. Morel, where she addressed the purpose of the act, its national context, and the obligations of the convention under national legislation. This was followed by pertinent questions from the Members which greatly enriched discussions on the Convention. With the steady increase in demand for domestic workers in the country, the need to adopt this Convention was evident. The concerns addressed and expressed by the Members included the contractual conditions of the workers, registration of local domestic workers, abuse of workers, working hours, protection of employers, and the inspection and enforcement of household regulation conditions.
On the issue of the impacts of the Convention on the Employment Act Ms. Morel highlighted the Employment Regulations, i.e., the conditions of Employment of Domestic workers, which have already given the country headway in the implementation and domestication of the Convention, once it comes into force. The IAC welcomed the Convention for Seychelles and pledged their support to the Department of Employment.
As the meeting concluded, many recommendations were made to the Department of Employment. These recommendations will be laid out and submitted in the report to the House, in advance of the motion for ratification. Both parties considered the results of the meeting to be quite favourable and shared their thanks and appreciation for the discussions that took place.
