The Seychelles government has enacted a new law establishing an Unemployment Relief Scheme. The scheme will provide employment opportunities and skills acquisition to participants.
The Unemployment Relief Scheme Act, 2026 received assent on 24 March 2026. It was published in the Official Gazette on 30 March 2026.
The Act will come into operation on a date appointed by the Minister. The Minister will publish the date in the Gazette.
Under the Act, a person must meet three requirements to join the scheme. The individual must be a Seychelles citizen. The person must be unemployed. The person must also register with the Ministry as a job seeker.
The law sets out circumstances that can make a person ineligible for the scheme.
An eligible person may fail to utilise an opportunity for other gainful employment. The person may also refuse an offer of gainful employment without a valid reason.
The same rule applies to placement on special employment programmes offered by the Ministry.
In such cases, the person will cease to be eligible for the scheme. The exclusion period lasts 12 months from the date of the failure or refusal.
The Act also applies to existing participants. A participant may fail to utilise an opportunity for other gainful employment. A participant may also refuse an offer of gainful employment without a valid reason.
In those circumstances, the participant will cease to continue in the scheme for 12 months.
The law defines a valid reason. The Chief Executive determines whether a reason is valid.
The Act states that valid reasons may include distance from home to work. They may also include old age or ill health.
The need to care for young children may also qualify. Previous disagreement with a person offering employment may also qualify.
The Chief Executive must make a decision in writing within 14 days. The decision must determine whether a person failed to utilise an employment opportunity without a valid reason. It must also determine whether a person refused employment without a valid reason.
A person may appeal the decision. The appeal must be lodged within 14 days of service of the decision.
The Minister may affirm the decision. The Minister may also vary it. The Chief Executive may review a decision on a person’s continued participation. The person must show good reasons for non-utilisation of the opportunity.
The Chief Executive may also review a person’s continued need to remain in the scheme.
The review may take place after six months of participation. However, the Chief Executive may waive that period for good reasons.
The Act defines “other gainful employment”. It means gainful employment other than employment in an approved project.
The Minister may approve projects under the scheme. These projects may generate employment for participants.
The Act also gives the Minister regulation-making powers.
The Minister may make regulations on the scheme’s terms and conditions. Regulations may also cover working hours and rates of payment.
They may also cover application procedures and eligibility criteria. Other regulations may address mandatory activities, compliance and enforcement.