Since Monday afternoon a new hotline - 4303930 - is operational on a 24 hour basis for foreign workers themselves as well as members of the public to report cases of abuse, mistreatment of foreigners working in the country or any other unacceptable or suspicions behaviour on the part of employers.

Employment, Immigration and Civil Status Minister Myriam Télémaque announced the coming into operation of the hotline on Monday during a meeting with the local press to give an update on the work being undertaken by the ministry and inform the public of new policies and measures being introduced or reviewed.

"With our limited resources, the hotline will serve as another means to receive information fast and for us to take action quickly to address cases of abuse and other unacceptable behaviour against foreign employees," Minister Télémaque pointed out.

The hotline is only part of several other measures being undertaken to address cases of abuse, mistreatment and at the same improve the working, living conditions of foreign workers; boost efforts to have more Seychellois assume supervisory, management positions in work places through strong localisation programmes; ensure employers abide to the conditions of their certificate of entitlement among others.

While being conscious that the increasing number of foreign workers in the country has raised a lot of concern lately, Minister Télémaque said the ministry is also conscious of the increasing demands for foreign labour as the local market finds it difficult to satisfy the demands and provide employees with specific competence as required, especially in the private sector.

"Our economy is growing and this increases the demand for more employees. The fact that we have a small population, there will always be the need to recruit from abroad if we are to continue with our economic development. But I also recognise that Seychellois workers also have an important role to play and the ministry is stepping up its effort to ensure Seychellois assume supervisory and management positions in their organisations," Minister Télémaque stressed.

From January to end of March this year, 205 Seychellois have been identified through their organisations' localisation plan and are in understudy positions. Statistics also show that during the same period 2,809 applications to recruit foreign workers have been received and from that 1,811 positions were approved.

"The number of foreign workers in the country during that same period stood at 17,510 and 114 organisations are in possession of a certificate of entitlement which allows them to recruit foreign workers directly through the department of immigration under the quota system," Minister Télémaque pointed out.

She went on to add that of Wednesday last week the employment ministry presented the Cabinet with a series of new recommendations of measures on recruitment procedures of foreign workers. This aims to ensure Seychellois workers continue to benefit from work opportunities, promotions and move to take on key positions.

"Later during the year, the ministry expects to present certain amendments in relation to the quota system used to recruit foreign workers and consultations with concerned partners have already been carried out on the different propositions which concern more specifically among others:

- how work places support Seychellois who are understudying foreign employees;

- that positions being advertised must be clear with enough detailed information to encourage Seychellois to apply;

- that more employers submit the contract of their foreign employees to the ministry to ascertain their working conditions are in line with employment regulations;

- for construction companies to introduce measures to ensure their employees work and live in acceptable conditions.

Also concerning foreign employees, Minister Télémaque stated that all the concerned authorities including the ministry itself must step up their efforts to ensure that foreign workers in our country are treated with dignity and that they work as per their permit and contract.

Meanwhile, following the recent incidents where the case of mistreatment of foreign employees came to light through investigation led by the Association for Rights, Information and Democracy (Arid) Minister Télémaque has said the association operates under a mandate and so does the ministry and noted that the work Arid has carried out has also helped denounce those abuses and violation of employment regulations which are tarnishing our country's reputation and good name.

But Minister Télémaque noted that the ministry encounters such cases often during the visits its inspectors carry out on work premises or through public information and which are severely dealt with but without publicity.

The minister went on to state that there has been cases where companies have had their work permit withdrawn and their employees prevented from working until their work and living conditions were improved. Minister Télémaque expressed the hope that with the new hotline more complaints will be brought to the ministry's attention to denounce such unacceptable behaviour.

She has also said it is an offence for employers to withhold their employees' passports without their consent but noted that there are employees who voluntarily ask their employers to keep their passports for fear of losing them. She said the ministry is encouraging the employers to put in place safety personal lockers for employees to keep their belongings.

Complements of Seychelles NATION.