[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

Seychelles (Tier 1) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2021 TIP Report

The Government of Seychelles fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government made key achievements to do so during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Seychelles was upgraded to Tier 1. These achievements included convicting the most traffickers reported in a single year; prosecuting more trafficking cases; increasing funding for victim services; and officially opening and providing services to survivors at the country’s first anti-trafficking shelter. The government increased training for front-line officials and regularly screened vulnerable populations for trafficking indicators, contributing to the most victims identified in a single year. The government provided direct services or referrals to care for all victims identified. The government consulted with survivors and incorporated their input into the draft NAP and other anti-trafficking materials. Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not inspect migrant working conditions in the Seychelles International Trade Zone (SITZ), despite continued reports of trafficking indicators; approve the 2022-2025 national action plan (NAP); or adopt pending legislation prohibiting the retention of passports by employers of migrant workers. The lack of interpreters available in the country hindered anti-trafficking law enforcement and victim identification efforts in cases involving foreign nationals. Some reports of low-level official complicity in trafficking crimes persisted.

Prioritized Recommendations

Provide specialized anti-trafficking training to labor inspectors to identify and report potential trafficking crimes to appropriate officials.

Conduct routine inspections in the SITZ to monitor migrant working conditions and screen for trafficking indicators.

Expand the availability of interpretation services, especially for Bengali and Hindi, available to law enforcement, courts, and victim service providers.

Allocate adequate funding and resources for victim services, including to the Trafficking in Persons Fund.

Use the victim identification and referral SOPs to systematically and proactively identify trafficking victims, including by screening for trafficking indicators among vulnerable populations, such as individuals in commercial sex, migrant workers, workers in the SITZ, and Cuban medical professionals, and refer all trafficking victims to appropriate services.

Continue to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, including complicit officials, which should involve significant prison terms.

Adopt and implement the draft 2022-2025 NAP.

Remove the required fee for migrant workers to file a complaint with the Labor Tribunal.

Adopt legislation prohibiting the retention of passports by employers of migrant workers.

Consistently enforce strong regulations and oversight of labor recruitment companies, including by increasing efforts to identify fraudulent labor recruiters and hold them criminally accountable.