Bill 30 2025 - Unemployment Relief Scheme Bill, 2025.

[17th December, 2025] Unemployment Relief Scheme Bill 1 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF SCHEME BILL, 2025 (Bill No. 30 of 2025) EXPLANATORY STATEMENT ON THE OBJECTS AND REASONS FOR THE BILL The Bill seeks to establish an Unemployment Relief Scheme with a view to provide employment and skills acquisition to participants of the Scheme. Dated this 17th day of December, 2025. IDITH SHARON ALEXANDER MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING _______________ [17th December, 2025] Unemployment Relief Scheme Bill 2 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF SCHEME BILL, 2025 (Bill No. 30 of 2025) ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS SECTIONS 1. Short title 2. Interpretation 3. Establishment of the Unemployment Relief Scheme 4. Eligibility for participants of Scheme 5. Participation in the Scheme 6. Approved projects 7. Regulations [17th December, 2025] Unemployment Relief Scheme Bill 3 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF SCHEME BILL, 2025 (Bill No. 30 of 2025) A BILL FOR AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF SCHEME AND FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH OR INCIDENTAL THERETO. ENACTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Unemployment Relief Scheme Act, 2025 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may by notice published in the Gazette, appoint. Interpretation 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires – “approved project’ means a project approved under section 6; “Chief Executive” means the person acting or discharging the functions of such office in the Ministry responsible for the administration of this Act; “gainful employment” means employment for gain or reward otherwise than as a participant of the Scheme in an approved project; “Minister” means the Minister responsible for Employment and Human Resource Planning and the term Ministry shall be construed accordingly; “Scheme” means the Unemployment Relief Scheme established by section 3; “valid reason” means such reason as the Chief Executive considers to be valid in any particular case and includes distance from home to place of work, old age, bad health, the need to care for young children and previous disagreement with a person offering gainful employment. [17th December, 2025] Unemployment Relief Scheme Bill 4 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE Establishment of Unemployment and Relief Scheme 3. There shall be established a Scheme to be known as the Unemployment Relief Scheme to provide employment and skills acquisition to the participants of the Scheme. Eligibility for participants of Scheme 4. A person shall be eligible to become a participant of the Scheme, if the person – (a) is a citizen of Seychelles; (b) is unemployed; and (c) has registered with the Ministry as a person seeking employment. Participation in the Scheme 5.(1) Where a person, eligible to become a participant of the Scheme under section 4, has failed to utilise the opportunity for other gainful employment; or placement on other special employment programmes offered by the Ministry or has been offered any other gainful employment and has refused it without a valid reason to accept the said offer, the person shall cease to be eligible to become a participant of the Scheme for a period of twelve months from the date of failure or refusal, as the case may be. (2) Where a participant of the Scheme has, during the period in which the person is a participant, has failed without a valid reason to utilise the opportunity for other gainful employment or has been offered any other gainful employment and has refused it without a valid reason to accept the said offer, the participant shall cease to continue as a participant of the Scheme for a period of twelve months from the date of failure or refusal, as the case may be. (3) The Chief Executive shall decide, whether a person has failed to utilise the opportunity for other gainful employment without a valid reason or refused to accept an offer of any other gainful employment without a valid reason, and the decision of the Chief Executive shall be served on that person. (4) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Chief Executive under subsection (3) may within 14 days of the date of service of the decision may appeal to the Minister against the decision and the Minister may affirm or vary the decision of the Chief Executive. (5) The Chief Executive may review the decision regarding continuation of a person to continue as a participant of the Scheme upon showing good reasons for non-utilisation of the opportunity . [17th December, 2025] Unemployment Relief Scheme Bill 5 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE (6) The Chief Executive may review or cause to be reviewed the need to continue as a participant of the Scheme on the expiration of six months period, of the person’s participation in the Scheme: Provided that the Chief Executive Officer may dispense the period of 6 months specified under subsection (6), for good reasons. (7) For the purposes of this section “other gainful employment” means any other gainful employment other than an employment in an approved project. Approved projects 6. The Minister may approve projects on which employment may be generated and provided to the participants of the Scheme under this Act. Regulations 7. The Minister may make regulations for carrying out the provisions of this Act and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing may make regulations prescribing — (a) the Unemployment Relief Scheme under section 3; (b) the minimum hours of work on an approved project of the Scheme; (c) the minimum hours of work of the Scheme; (d) the rates of payment to the participants of the Scheme; (e) the manner in which applications may be submitted by the persons to participate in the Scheme; (f) eligibility criteria for the Scheme; (g) participation in mandatory activities of the Scheme; and (h) rules for compliance and enforcement of the Scheme.