Photo: Presidential Press and Information Office (Russia), kremlin.ru, public domain
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Seychelles and the Russian Federation signed a Labour Action Plan on 22 June at the 11th Russian Labour Inspectors Forum in Russia, deepening a cooperation that began with President Patrick Herminie’s state visit to Moscow in April and giving Seychellois inspectors a structured channel into Russian occupational safety and inspection practice over the next two years.
The agreement was signed in Sochi by the Minister for Employment and Human Resource Planning, Idith Alexander, and Russia’s Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Anton Kotyakov, on the margins of the inspectors forum, which runs from 22 to 26 June. It builds on the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Labour Inspection and Promotion of Employment that Foreign Affairs Minister Barry Faure signed in Moscow on 24 April 2026 during the President’s state visit.
At the forum’s official launch, Minister Alexander described labour inspectors as “guardians of fairness in the workplace.” She emphasised their role in safeguarding workers’ rights, promoting fair labour practices, and ensuring compliance with legislation. The newly signed Action Plan consolidates the exchange of expertise in occupational safety and health, workplace accidents, and labour inspection practices. Three labour inspectors from Seychelles are participating in the forum alongside principal secretary for Labour Relations and Regulations, Steve Monnaie.
Minister Alexander noted that the discussions are timely as Seychelles is reviewing labour-related policies and legislative frameworks, including the National Occupational Safety and Health Policy, to align with international best practices. Following the signing, she held bilateral talks with Minister Kotyakov, focusing on employment services and labour administration. Minister Alexander encouraged the Seychellois inspectors to seize the opportunity to deepen knowledge, exchange experiences, and apply insights to strengthen Seychelles’ labour administration.
The new framework follows a wider pattern of Russia-Africa cooperation on labour matters. In 2021, Russia and the International Labour Organization signed a Programme of Cooperation for 2021 to 2024 covering labour legislation, skills development, lifelong learning, inclusive employment policies, universal social protection, and occupational safety and health, areas in which Seychelles is now seeking to build inspector capacity.
The action plan also sits within the broader Seychelles-Russia bilateral relationship as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. Cooperation has expanded in education, training (including police training), sports, tourism, and trade. According to the Russian Embassy in Victoria, the partnership is being framed as one between long-standing friends, with regular high-level visits in both directions.
For Seychelles, the operational question is how quickly the action plan translates into measurable improvements in workplace inspections at home. The country is reviewing its National Occupational Safety and Health Policy and is expected to seek technical support from Russian counterparts as part of the new framework. Inspectors returning from Sochi this week are expected to feed into that review process, with the next round of bilateral engagement likely to focus on digital tools for public employment services and joint training on workplace accident prevention.
The action plan also has a regional dimension. Russia has spent several years positioning itself as a labour-cooperation partner for African states, partly through the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan 2023 to 2026, which calls for bilateral roadmaps in areas of mutual interest. The Seychelles action plan fits that template at a moment when the two countries are also marking fifty years of diplomatic relations and building out cooperation in education, sport, tourism, and trade. Inside Seychelles, the labour inspectors returning from Sochi this week will brief the Ministry of Employment on the practical content of the Russian framework and the legislative changes needed to align Seychellois practice with international occupational safety norms.
Sources cited: Ministry of Employment and Human Resource Planning, Seychelles. Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Strengthening Labour Cooperation. Presidential Executive Office of Russia, en.kremlin.ru. ILO-Russia Programme of Cooperation 2021 to 2024. Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Seychelles. Russia-Africa Partnership Forum coverage, Sputnik Africa.
Source: SN
