In Seychelles, employers are required by law to provide a range of mandatory employee benefits. These benefits are designed to protect workers and ensure they receive fair compensation and time off.

Paid Time Off

• Annual Leave: Employees are entitled to a minimum of 21 days of paid annual leave per year. This typically translates to accruing around 1.75 days of leave every month of work.
• Public Holidays: There are 12 paid public holidays observed in Seychelles each year.
• Sick Leave: Employees are entitled to a minimum of 21 days of paid sick leave per year. In cases of hospitalization, this extends to 60 days.

Parental Leave

• Maternity Leave: Female employees are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, with a minimum of 12 weeks following childbirth. They cannot return to work until the paid leave period is complete.
• Paternity Leave: Male employees are entitled to 10 consecutive days of paid paternity leave, regardless of the type of employment contract.

Other Mandatory Benefits

• Probationary Period: The maximum probationary period for an employee cannot exceed 6 months.
• Notice Period: Both employers and employees are required to provide a notice period before termination of employment. The specific length of notice depends on factors like job position and length of service.
• 13th Month Pay: Employers are required to provide a mandatory 13th-month salary to employees, equivalent to one month's basic pay. It's important to note that this benefit applies exclusively to Seychellois nationals.

Beyond the mandatory benefits mandated by Seychelles' labor laws, employers often provide additional perks to attract and retain talent. Here's a breakdown of some commonly offered optional employee benefits:

Health and Wellness Benefits

• Private health insurance: This can help employees cover medical expenses not covered by the national health system.
• Wellness programs: Employers might offer gym memberships, on-site fitness facilities, or health screenings to promote employee well-being.

Financial Benefits

• Performance bonuses: Rewarding employees for exceeding targets can boost morale and productivity.
• Profit-sharing schemes: A share in the company's profits can incentivize employees and foster a sense of ownership.
• Salary sacrifice schemes: Employees can opt to reduce their salary in exchange for benefits like childcare vouchers.

Work-Life Balance Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements: This could include remote work options, compressed workweeks, or flexible start and end times.
• Paid time off: Employers might offer additional paid vacation days or personal leave days beyond the statutory minimum.
• Childcare assistance: This can take the form of on-site childcare facilities, childcare subsidies, or vouchers.

Other Benefits

• Company car or car allowance: This perk can be particularly attractive in Seychelles, considering the island nation's geography.
• Educational assistance: Employers might reimburse employees for continuing education courses or professional development programs.
• Discounted products or services: Employees might receive discounts on company products or services.

In Seychelles, employers are not legally required to provide health insurance to their employees. The country operates a free, universal healthcare system, the National Health Care Scheme (NHCS), which covers a wide range of medical services for citizens and residents.

However, the NHCS might not encompass every medical expense an employee might incur. Here's a breakdown of the health insurance landscape for employees in Seychelles:

Employer-provided health insurance

Many employers, particularly larger companies or those in specific industries, opt to offer private health insurance plans as an optional employee benefit. These plans can provide additional coverage beyond the NHCS, such as:

• Reimbursement for services not covered by the NHCS
• Access to a wider network of healthcare providers, including private hospitals and specialists
• Faster access to medical care

Employee choice

Employees can also choose to purchase private health insurance plans independently. This can be beneficial for individuals with specific healthcare needs or those who desire more comprehensive coverage.

While there's no legal mandate for employer-provided health insurance in Seychelles, many employers offer it as a valuable perk. Employees can also choose to obtain private health insurance on their own for additional coverage beyond the national healthcare scheme.

In Seychelles, employees have a two-pronged approach to retirement planning.

Seychelles Pension Fund (SPF) Contribution

The Seychelles Pension Fund Act, 2003 established the mandatory Seychelles Pension Fund (SPF) Contribution. All employed individuals in Seychelles are required to contribute to the SPF. Both employers and employees contribute a combined 10% of the employee's gross monthly salary, with a 5% contribution each.

The benefits of this contribution include a guaranteed monthly pension upon retirement, calculated based on a formula considering salary and contribution period. The minimum contribution period for eligibility is 10 years of continuous contributions immediately before retirement or 20 years of total contributions with breaks since 1979. The official retirement age is 60 years old, though the compulsory retirement age is 63.

Voluntary Pension Plans

Employers may offer voluntary pension plans as an additional benefit. These plans can vary significantly depending on the employer and the chosen provider. The benefits of these plans include the potential for higher returns compared to the mandatory SPF contributions and greater control over investment choices. Employee contributions are typically pre-tax, offering tax benefits. However, these plans may have vesting periods before employees gain full access to their contributions.