27/07/2026
Seychelles Launches National Consultation on Living Wage Estimation
The Government of Seychelles, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), officially launched the country's first National Consultation Workshop on Living Wage Estimation in early July 2026 at Eden Bleu Hotel, marking an important step towards developing an evidence-based living wage estimate for Seychelles.
The workshop was jointly organised by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Trade, the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource Planning, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and the ILO. It brought together representatives from government, employers' and workers' organizations, development partners, and other key stakeholders to introduce the concept of a living wage and outline the methodology and process that will guide its estimation.
Opening the workshop, the Principal Secretary for Economic Planning, Mrs. Elizabeth Agathine, reaffirmed the Government's commitment to developing evidence-based policies that reflect Seychelles' unique economic and social realities. She noted that the living wage estimation forms part of the Government's broader efforts to support social and economic well-being of workers and their families.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator for Seychelles and Mauritius, H.E. Ms. Lisa Singh, also delivered welcoming remarks, reaffirming the United Nations' strong support for Seychelles' efforts to develop a nationally-owned living wage estimate through an inclusive and consultative process.
Providing the technical overview, Mr. Nicolas Maître, Senior Economist at the ILO, presented the methodology, guiding principles, and data requirements that will underpin the living wage estimation. He explained that the exercise will be based on reliable national data and guided by the principles of transparency, stakeholder participation, and social dialogue. Mr. Ernest Tingum, ILO Wages and Social Dialogue Specialist, complemented the presentation by sharing regional perspectives on living wages in Africa and highlighting lessons from countries that have undertaken similar exercises.
The ILO also explained the distinction between a living wage and a minimum wage. While a minimum wage is a legally established wage floor, a living wage represents a wage level required for workers and their families to achieve a decent standard of living through normal working hours. Participants were introduced to the ILO's guiding principles for living wage estimation, including the use of credible national data, transparency throughout the process, broad stakeholder consultation, and regular reviews to ensure estimates remain relevant over time.
The workshop also featured a presentation by Ms. Tania Pouponneau of the National Bureau of Statistics, who outlined the methodology used to estimate living costs through the Household Budget Survey (HBS). She explained how household expenditure patterns, food consumption, caloric requirements, housing costs, and other essential non-food expenses are used to estimate the cost of meeting basic needs. She further highlighted the HBS as an important source of data for poverty measurement, national accounts, nutritional analysis, and evidence-based policymaking.
An interactive discussion followed, during which participants sought clarification on various methodological and policy considerations relevant to the living wage estimation process.
ILO experts explained clarified that the living wage is intended to serve as an evidence-based benchmark to support policy discussions and social dialogue. The living wage therefore does not replace existing legal and institutional mechanisms. The organization also emphasized the importance of maintaining strong institutions, continuous stakeholder engagement, and clear communication throughout the estimation process.
The workshop concluded with a shared recognition of the importance of collaboration among government, employers, workers, and development partners in developing a nationally-owned living wage estimate that reflects the realities of Seychelles.
In her closing remarks, the Principal Secretary for Employment and Human Resource Planning, Ms. Susan Morel, reaffirmed the Government's commitment to a balanced, inclusive, and consultative approach to the living wage estimation process. She informed participants that further consultations will be held as the work progresses, thanked stakeholders for their active participation, and underscored that their continued engagement will be essential to the successful development of a living wage estimate for Seychelles.
