Labour law regulations - general

• No person has the right to work before the age of 15 and no employer can hire or employ people that age. Employers, in contravention with this rule, commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding MUR 2,000 and a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year. The Government is expected to revise these rule by increasing the minimum age to 16 in line with the ILO Minimum Age Convention of 1973 and the Education Act 2004 which provides for compulsory education up to the age of 16. No person below the age of 18 can be employed in harmful jobs or those that may be dangerous to health.

• Employment extends to a maximum of 6 days a week, and not more than 8 hours per day exclusive of breaks. Additional hours worked in one day may be offset against leave on another day without affecting his earnings. For those under 18, working hours cannot last more than 6 hours per day or 36 hours per week. In case of shops, the duration may not exceed 48 hours.

• Female workers in industrial employment cannot work more than 10 hours per day nor work between 10.00 pm to 5.00 am – even in the presence of extra compensation.

• No worker is required to work on public holiday unless he voluntarily agrees to do so.Employees having occupied their post for a continuous period of 12 consecutive months are entitled to 16 days of annual paid leaves and 21 days of annual paid sick leaves.

• Female employees are allowed 12 weeks of maternity leave (6 weeks before and 6 weeks after confinement). After the third confinement the law grants employees leave without pay. Breastfeeding is allowed for one hour or twice half hour daily but employer can require such leave to be taken just before or after lunch or tea breaks.

• Employers must arrange for transport facilities for employees working between 9.00 pm to 5.00 am living more than three miles from his place of work. Employer can also opt to refund bus-traveling expenses if such service is available.

• The retiring age, currently at 60, will be raised to 65 both in the public and private sectors. 1 month will be added to the actual retirement age every two months starting from August 2008 and ending in year 2018.

• Health and occupational safety are important points regulated by relevant laws. The employer is required to provide protective equipment while making sufficient and appropriate assessment of risk factors that might affect the health and safety of employees. In case of delicate operations, the employer is bound to provide sufficient training to employees engaged on the assignment. Enterprises employing more than 50 persons are required to issue a written statement of policy in respect to health and safety issues. Where the staff force is between 100 to 500 persons, a permanent health and occupational safety officer should be employed. The Ministry of Labour operates a dedicated health and occupational safety units where complaints are received and treated.

• Factories are compelled to adopt good corporate social responsibility policies and programmes. Factories are increasingly adopting the principles underlying the World Responsible Apparel Program (WRAP). Mauritius has adopted several set of corporate codes and ethics. Over 200 companies in the textiles sector have the ISO9000 certification and 15 companies have the ISO 14000 certification.

• Employers have social contributions obligations as follows:

• Employees normally contribute to the social security at the rate of 6% on their wage but it remains the duty of the employer to deduct the adequate charges and remit to authorities.

• Employers are encouraged to provide training to their workforce. In this regards a Levy Grant Scheme has been set up and allows employers to recover up to 75% of the training costs. Training has to be job-related, leading to the development and acquisition of new skills. Trainees should be residents of Mauritius.