Constitutional review and VVIP pension reform discussed in cabinet and parliament
via Le Mauricien5 min read
A constitutional review, with a focus on electoral system reform, is underway, as indicated by discussions at the Government Hotel ahead of a recent ministerial council meeting. These deliberations served as an initial round of observations among stakeholders, particularly partners of the Alliance du Changement, on this sensitive issue. Further high-level government working sessions are planned before the final draft of amendments is approved. One key legislative text under consideration aims to abolish the requirement for general election candidates to declare their ethnic affiliation on nomination forms. This proposed change, which requires a qualified majority in the National Assembly, would impact the relevance of the Best Loser System and aligns with a condition set by Rezistans Ek Alternativ during the November 10, 2024, general elections. The upcoming National Assembly session on Tuesday will feature 71 interpellations, with 26 allocated for Prime Minister's Question Time. Among these, a question from Ram Etwareea, a majority backbencher, will address the pension formula for former presidents, vice-presidents, ministers, and retired parliamentarians. He will ask the Prime Minister to provide a list of beneficiaries and the monthly budget allocated, and to state whether the government plans to review the current parliamentary pension formula. Other topics for the parliamentary session include Roshan Jhummun's question on police officers arrested in drug trafficking inve
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Mauricien.
The Council of Ministers noted the presence of 49,631 foreign workers in Mauritius, primarily in sectors facing labor shortages. The main countries of origin are India 15,840 workers, Nepal 14,821, Madagascar 9,995, and Bangladesh 8,975. Due to concerns about illegal recruitment and missing workers, the Ministry of Labor and Industrial Relations is revising its recruitment mechanisms. The Minister of Labor met with his Bangladeshi counterpart at the 114th International Labor Conference in Geneva. They agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a central governmental body in Bangladesh to oversee recruitment for Mauritius. This aims to curb issues with private intermediaries charging excessive fees or facilitating irregular recruitment. A similar model, the India-Mauritius Government-to-Government Mobility Partnership, already exists with India through the National Skills Development Corporation NSDC, described as a modern, transparent, and ethical recruitment framework. Additionally, the Council of Ministers noted strengthened control measures by the Passport and Immigration Office, which has been asked to intensify efforts to locate missing foreign workers. These measures aim to better regulate foreign labor, which is vital to several sectors of the Mauritian economy.
Must ReadTaty Almeida, a leading human rights activist in Argentina and president of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo – Founding Line, passed away on Sunday at the age of 95. Her death was announced by the organization, which stated, "It is with deep sadness that we must share this sad news: our dear Taty Almeida... has left us today." The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo was formed by women whose children disappeared during Argentina's dictatorship. The organization's statement added, "Thank you for teaching us that to love is to resist, that the only lost struggle is the one that is abandoned, and that there is no greater force than that of love." Almeida had been hospitalized for three weeks in Buenos Aires. Born Lidia Stella Mercedes Miy Uranga on June 28, 1930, she was a teacher who became involved in activism after her 20-year-old son, Alejandro, a medical student and left-wing militant, disappeared in 1975. He was among an estimated 30,000 opponents eliminated by the Triple A far-right militia or the dictatorship that governed Argentina from 1976 to 1983. Almeida never recovered his remains. She joined the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in 1979, a group of women demanding truth about their children's fates. Despite being the daughter and sister of military personnel, she initially hesitated to join but found a revelation within the organization. Almeida was a constant presence in mobilizations, trials, and political debates, always wearing her signature white scarf. Her passing was m
Must ReadMauritius is preparing to introduce a new Domestic Abuse Bill to replace the current Protection from Domestic Violence Act, aiming to enhance victim protection, prevent violence, and hold perpetrators more accountable. The proposed legislation broadens the definition of domestic violence to include financial deprivation, control, repeated humiliation, threats, social isolation, constant surveillance, emotional manipulation, and psychological pressure, which were previously not explicitly covered. This expansion acknowledges forms of abuse that often leave no visible traces but can severely impact individuals. The bill also seeks to facilitate access to protection orders, improve information sharing among institutions, introduce rehabilitation programs for offenders, and create specific offenses for those who violate court orders. Statistics Mauritius data indicates that women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence, accounting for nearly 80% of victims. In 2023, 650 women were recorded as victims of sexual violence or exploitation, compared to 59 men. Reported rape cases increased from 36 in 2021 to 53 in 2022, with over 92% of sexual violence victims being women. Experts note that sexual and domestic violence remain significantly underreported globally due to fear of retaliation, financial dependence, shame, family pressure, and the fear of not being believed. In a significant move, the Attorney-General’s Office is working on amendments to the Penal Code to expl