The trade unions have called off their strike action scheduled for yesterday. They had planned to demonstrate against the introduction of the new Employee Rights and Employment Relations Bills. They justified their stand to postpone the action as the Government has decided to bring them at a later stage. You’d remember the bills have been referred for reconsideration by a high powered committee following a critical report from the ILO.
On the other hand the trade unions have alerted the ILO on the recent “arrest” and seizure of passport of two of their leaders, which they consider as repressive action against their freedom of association and right to defend the interests of aggrieved workers. They are now on bail.
In the meantime sugar sector trade unions are satisfied with the deal agreed upon between the Government and the Mauritius Sugar Producers’ Association. These relate to the release of 2000 acres of land, the implementation of the Voluntary Retirement Scheme for redundant workers and the percentage in share capital participation. This agreement will ensue in the release of fund compensation from the European Union towards the materialization of the sugar sector reform initiatives in the wake of the end of the Sugar Protocol.
Alfa King Memories
Mauritian residing in Rodrigues, Amanoola Khayrattee (pen name Alfa King) is contributing writer and journalist to La Gazette Mag de l’océan indien and This Week News Mauritius.
Retired, former meteorological cadre, trade unionist and OSH consultant, Amanoola has written for in-house union and other journals, publications and magazines. He runs two blogs since 2007: “Alfa King Memories”, and “Le Journal d’Alfa King”. When he is not reading or writing, he is on a 10+ km daily hike in anticipation of his monthly trails.
Amanoola may be reached at [email protected].