Says minister, Jean François Chaumière, “we want people to understand that there are certain parameters that must be observed when employing an expatriate to work in Mauritius.” 

Those who defy  the law must be prepared to face the music, he adds.

In the big enterprises, generally speaking, the minister says, there's no problem in terms of salaries, accommodation, or general treatment. Right from recruitment, the worker is made aware of all his rights and responsibilities and, in a nutshell, they are informed of all the protections that the law of the land offers to them.

However, the minister admits, there are some entrepreneurs who do not pay any heed to what the law says. The way they treat the workers is “unacceptable”.

Chaumière doesn't think it is either “desirable” or “nice” to hear a foreign worker telling about the illtreatment he is often subjected to.

“It does not project a good image of the country. However, I must say, such negative reports are rare and not too many,” he says.

The minister points out that the root cause in employer and expat-employees relations is the system of recruitment. Most of these workers are recruited by agents in their home countries against payment of exorbitant commissions and promises of highly remunerative pay packets.

“In some cases, they pay up to Rs 100,000 and Rs 150,000 for the work permit. They often have to sell or mortgage their property to raise the money. They are told that they would get not less that Rs 30,000 monthly for a floor job in the textile sector. It is only after coming here that they realise they have been cheated,” Chaumière says.

Unfortunately, the Minister says, “we do not have any control on the recruitment. We can't. The law does not allow us. What's more,  some locals  connive with the foreign agents to facilitate the recruitment process though the local agents are not allowed to recruit overseas workers for the local market. However, we are in touch with the different envoys of the countries requesting them to have a stricter control and watch on recruitment agents or agencies in their home countries.”