Paid employment covers finding a job, agreeing written terms, receiving pay, taking leave and ending the working relationship. Employers must handle contracts, payroll, employment records, workplace safety and related tax and pension duties. The Employment Department provides job services and supports labour monitoring and industrial relations. A person without desired paid work can register with Employment Services and seek vacancies. The Unemployment Relief Scheme offers eligible citizens temporary work and skills development, while Welfare Assistance assesses financial hardship separately and does not operate as an automatic unemployment benefit. The Seychelles labour market is concentrated around tourism and also includes construction, fisheries, manufacturing, public services, finance and ICT. Mahé is the main economic and administrative centre, while employment services are also available on Praslin and La Digue. Employers report demand for both skilled and general workers. Professional work may require an approved qualification, documented experience, registration, a Seychelles Licensing Authority licence or supervised practice. The Seychelles National Qualifications Framework, professional registers and public-service cadres help identify requirements, but no single register covers every occupation. Running a business involves choosing a legal form, registering the business, obtaining activity-specific licences and meeting tax obligations. The Seychelles Investment Board coordinates investment applications; the Registration Division, Seychelles Licensing Authority and Seychelles Revenue Commission handle key registration, licensing and tax functions. Requirements vary with the activity, ownership, premises and sector, particularly in tourism, food, fisheries, construction, professional services and ICT.
Work in Seychelles
Work in Seychelles includes paid employment, employing workers, job seeking, professional practice and running a business. The rules depend on whether a person is an employee, employer, jobseeker, licensed professional or business owner. Non-Seychellois workers generally need a Gainful Occupation Permit before starting work, while businesses and regulated professions may require registration, licences or approved qualifications.
Tip
Choose your work path first: employee, employer, jobseeker, professional or business owner. Then verify the permits, qualifications, registrations and records that apply before work begins, because the consequences of choosing the wrong path or starting too early can affect both access to work and legal compliance.