Day: April 11, 2023

Discussions have started on a proposed flexible work arrangement in Seychelles between the Ministry of Employment and all relevant partners ahead of a study to be undertaken on the subject.

The employment minister, Patricia Francourt, outlined during a meeting recently that with the topic of flexible working being of interest nationally “we need all your input so that we can have a very good overview of the topics that we need to talk about, points to be considered before we go in this direction.”

Francourt said that the ministry knows that there is a demand in Seychelles for flexible working hours but it is not something that can be done overnight.

“It needs to be well prepared and it should take into consideration all the needs of every employer that is thinking of going down that route. We know that flexible working arrangements will bring a lot of benefits, especially for parents as well as for other professionals,” she explained.

Present at the meeting were representatives from different ministries and institutions in the public sector.

Flexible work arrangements are alternate arrangements or schedules from the traditional working day and week. Among the flexible work arrangements discussed were staggering hours, teleworking, compressed working weeks, time-saving accounts, hours averaging schemes, fix-time arrangements and work-sharing.

The chief policy analyst from the employment department, Susan Morel, said that local partners were briefed on the different types of flexible arrangements. Organisations can hence have an idea of which concept best suits them, learn of the challenges, and get recommendations on the matter.

“The model adopted will depend on the nature of the job and the business. At the Department of Employment, we need to ensure that in any approach that an organisation decides to take, workers’ protection should also exist. We need to take these things into account,” said Morel.

Moving forward with the flexible work arrangements concept, the International Labor Organisation (ILO) will be assisting Seychelles in conducting a study to learn which form of flexible work arrangements will be best for implementation in the island nation.

The study is expected to start by mid-year with the assistance of an international expert.

The move by the government to adopt flexible working hours was announced during the presentation of the 2021 budget to the National Assembly in February 2020 by the Minister for Finance, Economic Planning and Trade, Naadir Hassan. Though Hassan agreed that this move will lead to a better work-life balance, he said the government recognises that this move is not without challenges.

Flexible hours came into the spotlight amid the COVID-19 pandemic where workplaces had to make alternative arrangements as there was a restriction on movement.

On May 12, 2021, the Cabinet of Ministers initiated discussions on proposals to implement flexible working arrangements across Government.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Ethiopian experts suggest the need to work on building indigenous values and personalities along with the formal educational knowledge in the education system in order to build a reasonable generation that loves the country.

The Prime Minister Office organized “Addis Weg” discussion platform under the theme “Shape Generation Medemer” today.

Minister of Education Professor Birhanu Nega on the occasion said it is necessary to build a generation that is rational and loves its country so that Ethiopia can use its blessings properly.

A generation who would work for Ethiopia with self-motivation should be created, he stressed.

Starting from family level, religious institutions, schools and other social institutions should play their role for this cause, he pointed out.

According to the minister, in addition to their knowledge development efforts, schools are being made to carry out personality building activities as stipulated in the new education curriculum.

The Medemer Generation book has created a favorable opportunity for discussion on how to create a generation that is suitable for Ethiopia, Professor Birhanu said.

Professor Panos Hazendrias, who also works in the field of education, said “our education system should focus on global ideas based on indigenous knowledge.”

Reminding that the education system in Ethiopia has excluded indigenous values for centuries, Panos observed that this has made the generation not to fully understand the existing reality of the country.

Therefore, he stressed the need for additional curriculums based on personality building.

The Medemer Generation book indicates a new approach in creating a generation that knows and loves the country, he noted.

Psychologist Seble Hailu noted that it is the current generation that is responsible for shaping Ethiopia for a better future.

The present generation should overcome grudges and promote love and cooperation instead of hatred, the psychologist advised.

Beamlaksira Fassil, a 12th grade student, said that a paradigm shift is needed to shape the generation in a better way.

In this regard, the Medemer Generation provides a new perspective of generation building that included me and my peers, she explained.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) is deliberating its subcommittee meeting on combating various transnational crimes including terrorism and violent extremism.

The three-day meeting kicked off today in Addis Ababa under the theme “Promoting Best Policing Practices in the Fight Against Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime in EAPCCO Region and Beyond”.

In his opening remark, Ethiopian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Zelalem Mengistea said the region is facing common crime such as terrorism, financial crime, cyber-crime, counterfeiting, narcotics, human trafficking, arm trafficking, and crime against children among others.

“I urge all of us to work towards a common goal of fighting against these crimes and reducing crimes rate in the region. We can achieve this goal only if we work together as a team by building a strong networking, sharing information and using Interpol tools,” he added.

Furthermore, Zelalem pointed out that this will enhance and strengthen cooperation among member country’s law enforcement agencies and partners in the fight against transnational organized crime.

Outgoing Chair from DRC, Colonel Tshiany Magnat Kabeya said that EAPCCO exists primarily as a police collaboration and coordination entity in Eastern Africa region.

He emphasized the importance of collective obligation to combat terrorism and transnational organized crime in the interest of the regional stability, peace and development.

“The government and police chiefs of 14 countries have shown commitment in ensuring that the region is safe,” the outgoing chair noted.

The police chiefs will deliberate on developments and regional response to terrorism and violent extremism and regional efforts to combat transnational organized crimes among others.

EAPCCO with 14 member countries Police Chiefs is aimed at harmonizing, strengthening police co-operation and joint strategies, sharing of crime related information and harmonization of laws in order to enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat transnational organized crime.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Capricorn Foundation has recently made a N.dollars 250 000 donation to the Step Out of Poverty Charity (S.P.E.S).

The foundation’s ongoing assistance enables S.P.E.S to directly impact 1 100 children in Windhoek through 15 informal pre-schools by providing teacher training and mentorship, food and educational resources.

S.P.E.S Charity is a non-profit organisation that has been active in the community for over 16 years, primarily assisting informal pre-schools in Windhoek’s needy areas.

Capricorn Foundation Executive Officer Marlize Horn in a press release on Tuesday said since its inception in 2020, the foundation has established a solid track record of supporting early childhood development (ECD) projects and programmes throughout Namibia.

According to her, S.P.E.S is one of about five ECD programmes supported by Capricorn Foundation, adding that in order to avoid duplication of efforts, each of these programmes has a distinct value proposition and geographical impact.

“A safe, healthy and conducive learning environment is critical for children to maximise their early learning and to build a strong foundation for their development. The Capricorn Foundation is proud to partner with and support like-minded organisations that operate within one of our primary focus areas of education,” she said.

Horn added that S.P.E.S works to break the cycle of poverty by providing a support structure around the child while they develop through pre-school, primary school and secondary school until they enter employment.

Since the start of the S.P.E.S project, Kopenhagen Fur from Denmark has been involved as the primary sponsor. However, their commitment has been dramatically affected by COVID-19.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency