Government Rolls Out Staggered Working Hours for 18,000 Public Servants
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Following a Cabinet decision, the government has officially launched a pilot programme introducing staggered working hours across the public service, effective May 1, 2025. The new initiative will impact an estimated 10,000 government employees and up to 8,000 staff from parastatal organisations, with the three-month trial period aimed at modernising the country’s workforce practices.
Chief secretary of the Public Service Bureau, Shella Mohideen, and chief policy analyst Susan Morel, met with the press yesterday at the Ministry of Employment to further explain how the initiative will be implemented. Approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on March 5, 2025, this programme forms part of broader efforts to modernise workplace practices, ease traffic congestion, better accommodate school and childcare schedules, and strengthen the delivery of public services.
Under the pilot scheme, public sector employees may choose one of three start and ending times: 7am to 3pm, 8am to 4pm, or 9am to 5pm. ‘We have had several consultations with various government and parastatal organisations to discuss these adjustments. This will impact different services and actors. The concept has been around for some time and was particularly emphasised during the Covid-19 period,’ explained Ms Morel. The Public Service Bureau will monitor the trial and adjust the arrangements as needed before any permanent rollout is considered.
