MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION OF IN MAURTITIAN LAWS MEETS TRADE UNIONS

The 4th round of consultations on the Elimination of Discrimination in Mauritian Laws took place today at the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment. This meeting was chaired by the Attorney General Rama Valayden, in presence of Minister Jean-François Chaumière and representatives of trade unions such as the SEF, the NTUC, the CTSP, the MLC, the FPU and the GWF.


The trade unionists were keen to present views to the Attorney General and Minister Chaumière regarding various issues which they consider as discriminatory. For example the treatment of expatriate workers, the review of Remuneration Orders of a five-yearly basis, the consideration of all categories of workers equally in sectors such as health and education and other issues pertaining to the law and the public broadcasting service amongst others.


The Attorney General Rama Valayden and Minister Chaumière said these proposals would meet due consideration. Minister Chaumière explained the importance of having all socio-economic stakeholders on board in view of this national endeavour of harmonizing laws to eliminate discrimination. The trade unions were requested to submit their views and comments to the Committee for circulation to other stakeholders. A second meeting with trade unions will take place in a month’s time.


The Committee will be meeting stakeholders in Rodrigues for the next round of consultations.

SPEECH OF MINISTER CHAUMIERE AT THE PROSAFE FIRE FIGHTING WORKSHOP

It gives me much pleasure and honour to be in your midst this morning on the occasion of the opening ceremony of this workshop on fire fighting equipment organised by Prosafe Marketing Ltd.
Ladies and gentlemen, the workplace environment has seen considerable changes over the last decades with the introduction of new technologies, new equipment, new production methods and new work patterns. In view of the increasing complexity of health and safety risks, the interest of our workforce which remains our most valuable assets, has to be safeguarded, the more so, as we have to be competitive, in this era of globalisation.
Production, quality and safety should all go hand in hand and health and safety management should form an integral part in the day-to-day management function, as accidents can ruin businesses; bring about disrepute to the company’s image apart from other commonly known direct costs associated with them thereby affecting the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises.
We cannot therefore, ignore the magnitude of the impact of occupational accidents and diseases in terms of human suffering and related economic costs. There is no price for human life, and a safe and healthy working environment forms part of the fundamental rights of an employee. In line with the Government programme 2005–2010, the Occupational Safety and Health Legislation has been reviewed and now aims at meeting the new challenges at places of work and providing a safe and healthy workplace for one and all.
This piece of modern legislation addresses several issues. It is wider in scope and covers all employees, be it in the public or private sectors and introduces a number of new and innovative concepts such as safety and health policy and risk assessment.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2005 clearly spells out the responsibility of the employer to provide his employees, who can suffer bodily injuries, which cannot be prevented by other means, with such suitable and appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing which will protect him from risk of injury. The employer should in the first instance, adopt appropriate engineering control measures to eliminate or control risks.
The employer should also take into consideration ergonomic factors and the element of fit to the wearer of personal protective equipment when issuing same. As regards fire fighting protective equipment this should be given even more consideration as fire fighters are called upon to save life and properties, and if they are not issued with the right type and standard of fire-fighting protective equipment, this may expose them to life-threatening risks which are clearly unacceptable in any event.
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to seize this opportunity to emphasise the fact that every employer should ensure the safety, health and welfare at work of his employees by complying with their duties and responsibilities as spelt out in the Occupational Safety and Health Act which, amongst others, include:
· providing and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment and plants and systems of work,
· maintaining safe and healthy places of work,
· providing and maintaining adequate welfare facilities, and
· Providing information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the safety and health at work of the employees.
I would like to draw the attention of employers on the fact that they should ensure that employees are trained in the proper use and maintenance, where necessary, of the personal protective equipment provided to them so as to afford an efficient and effective protection to the employees while they are exposed to risks.
Ladies and gentlemen, employees also have a responsibility to cooperate with the employers for maintaining high standards of safety and health at the workplace. They should wear or use any personal protective clothing provided by the employer at all times when there is a risk of bodily injury against which the equipment or clothing afford protection.

Safety and health not only includes provision of a safe and healthy working environment but it also requires the right attitude and behaviour of employees regarding use of personal protective equipment. Changes in the behaviour of employees can only be brought about through the firm commitment of management to bring a new safety culture at the workplace through appropriate information and training campaign. Employees should report forthwith to their employer the loss or destruction of, or defect in the personal protective equipment or clothing affords protection. An employee should also report forthwith to his employer the loss or destruction of, or defects in, the protective equipment or clothing. Employees should know that any personal protective equipment provided to them is for the protection of their life and health and in not wearing the protective clothing and using the necessary equipment they are taking unnecessary risks.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am made to understand that Pro-safe Marketing Ltd started its operation in 1995. It is involved in the supply of personal protective equipment and the provision of training and consultancy services to diverse sectors of the economy including the agricultural, textile, public and airport sectors.
Your role in the enhancement of safety and health standards in Mauritius as supplier of personal protective equipment cannot be underestimated. I hope you will continue to play a key role in the improvement of safety and health standard in Mauritius by supplying high quality and reliable personal protective equipment to the Mauritian workforce.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to conclude here by wishing you plenty of success in your endeavour to promote health and safety at your level. As you are aware, safety and health concerns each and everyone in the society at large be it employers, employees, importers or suppliers and each stakeholder should assume his responsibilities in ensuring high standards of safety and health at all workplaces.

SPEECH OF HON. JEAN FRANCOIS CHAUMIERE AT THE GOVERNMENT ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION AGM

It gives me great pleasure to be among you this afternoon on the occasion of the AGM and half-day sensitization programme organised by the Government Professional Engineers’ Association.

I am informed that the Government Professional Engineers’ Association groups engineers from several Ministries, and that, this afternoon, in addition to its AGM, your association has sought it important to conduct a sensitization programme for your members on the provisions of the Employment Relations Act which is effective as from February last year. This initiative is in line with what I am always saying with regards to this new labour legislation: that all stakeholders, including the trade unions and other professional associations, must make it their responsibility to inform their members of the main provisions of the new labour laws, as well as of other legal instruments relating to the world of work.

As professionals and also as members of a union, you should also be aware that, in addition to reforms in our labour legislation, the government has also initiated a series of economic, social and institutional reforms with the overall aim of improving the quality of life of every citizen in this country. Many of these reforms that have challenged the comfort of traditional and outdated practices and expectations, have now revealed themselves as being necessary and instrumental in order to better respond to the on-going challenges.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Most of the economic and social indicators have shown that the government was always right in coming up with enabling and bold measures in time through successive budgets since we took office in 2005. We have been able not only to address the serious and catastrophic economic situation we had inherited, but we have also been able to mitigate the impact of the world economic and financial crisis with some success.

Today, the whole of the Island has become a construction site – thanks to the numerous and countless projects this government has initiated with regards to public infrastructure, government buildings, roads – without mentioning such massive projects like the new airport terminals, Jing Fe, in addition to the development in the tourism and IRS sectors, etc…

The Government of Mauritius needs and employs different kinds of Engineers including civil, environmental, mechanical, electrical, chemical, agriculture and computer engineers. I am sure that all Engineers here have noted the concern of our Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam last year in relation to the scarcity of Engineers in the country and where friendly countries like India was reluctant to release their Engineers because they themselves were in need. If we speak of scarcity of engineers in Mauritius, it must be related to the unprecedented boom in the construction and infrastructural sectors thanks to the measures taken by this government.

It is generally known that Engineers have primarily been the spearhead to develop ways to utilize economically the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind. On the one hand the invention of new manufacturing-processes has allowed economic output at the lowest possible cost and on the other hand, it has contributed to render work more human. Furthermore, there have been considerable improvements in other spheres through new technologies which have rendered our life more comfortable.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Engineers play a crucial role in creating infrastructure in the world. Engineers are problem solvers who apply their knowledge and experience to building projects that meet human needs, and to cleaning up environmental problems. Engineers design equipment and machines and ensure that safety norms and standards are incorporated therein. They work on a wide range of issues and projects, and as a result, Engineers’ work can have a significant impact on progress towards sustainable development.
I believe that Engineers in the Public Service need to be sensitized in a very important concept known as Decent Work, which sums up the aspirations of people in their working lives. It involves opportunities for work that is productive, freely chosen and delivers a fair income, security and safety in the workplace and social protection for the worker and his/her family, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men. The Decent Work Concept was, as you may all know, first expressed and formally mentioned by the International Labour Organisation Director-General, Juan Somavia, in his Report to the ILO in 1999.

At the level of my own Ministry, we have not only spearheaded the ratification of the Eight ILO Fundamental Conventions and but also ensured that all our Labour Laws are in compliance with these fundamental Conventions – which are of direct relevance to Decent Work principles.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Another fundamental issue that we have to address in the context of Decent Work agenda is Occupational Safety and Health. Engineers need not be reminded that the question of Occupational Safety and Health must always remain a priority in their day-to-day activities. Changes in society, work organization and production methods are leading to new types of occupational risks that demand new measures and solutions. The World of Work is changing rapidly and work-related health issues are changing too. It is under this background, that on 1st September 2007, a new Occupational Safety and Health Act came into effect. The primary objectives of this new legislation are to further strengthen and broaden the legal framework on safety, health and the welfare of employees at work – both in the private sector and the public sector as well. The provision of decent work at the workplace ranks high on the agenda of the Government, and of my Ministry in particular.

The government’s commitment and determination to reform the outdated industrial relations framework has been translated in the adoption of the Employment Relations Act and the Employment Rights Act – having as primary objectives to strengthen dialogue with Social Partners, to better protect workers and to promote effective Collective-Bargaining. One prominent feature of the Employment Relations Act is the effective recognition of the right to Collective-Bargaining which remains the Trade Unions most important function. This legislation sets out the conditions for harmonious development of Collective-Bargaining and for a conflict-free workplace. Barriers to good faith Collective-Bargaining such as union access to the workplace, access to information, recognition and time-off facilities have been addressed in the Employment Relations Act. Other provisions deal specifically with the responsibility of management as well as with such issues as Procedural Agreements in order to facilitate effective Collective Bargaining. Several other provisions deal extensively with trade unions and workers rights as well.

As I have said earlier, it is up to the trade unions to ensure that they have a good grasp not only of all the provisions of the Employment Relations Act, but also of the role and functions of the numerous tripartite structures that have already been set-up – such as the Commission for Conciliation and Mediation, Employment Relations Tribunal, amongst others.


I must say that I fully agree with the main objectives of the Government Professional Engineers’ Association, which are to promote social dialogue and sound relations and to resort to conciliatory methods to settle disputes between members and their employers and between members and other workers.

I fully subscribe to this method of resolving industrial dispute as it allows the parties involved to meet, sort out misunderstandings, explore options and arrive at a mutually beneficial solution. Consequently, those involved in the process of resolving their differences through Conciliation and Mediation are far more likely to strengthen their relations for mutual benefits. I also wish to assure you of my unconditional support in the process of resolving any industrial dispute.

By way of conclusion, and coming back to your role as engineers – let me say that you have, no doubt, contributed immensely in improving the quality of life of our population. I need not elaborate on the many accomplishments and achievements that can be attributed to engineers. However, I believe that, irrespective of the fields you cater for, as engineers, your concern should also focus on such issues pertaining to sustainable development and to such project as Maurice-Ile- Durable. In this regard, you must consider yourselves as privileged partners in addressing the objectives of the government on these issues. You, as engineers must play a decisive role not only in the promotion but also in contributing to make the concept Maurice-Ile- Durable a reality.

I again take the opportunity to congratulate the Association for their initiative and wish its members my best wishes in their endeavor.

MINISTER CHAUMIERE MEETS DR. EMMANUEL OTAALA, MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS OF UGANDA

The Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Hon. Jean-François Chaumière met with Ugandan State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations Dr. Emmanuel O. Otaala today at his office in Port Louis. Dr. Otaala, who arrived in Mauritius yesterday for a 3-day official visit, is accompanied by Ms. Harriet Luyima, Acting Commissioner for Employment Services and Mr. Milton Turyasiima, Senior Labour Officer of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development of Uganda.

The aim of the visit, according to Minister Otaala is to learn how Mauritius,as a country, has made it to middle-income status. The delegation is also here to learn about creating jobs and opportunities, the new labour legislation, trade unionism in Mauritius and the tripartite structures which exist here.

The meeting between Minister Chaumière and Dr. Otaala was an occasion to compare notes on the development of labour, industrial relations and employment in both countries. “It is an opportunity for us also to learn from you” Minister Chaumière told his Ugandan counterpart. Discussions centered on the Employment Relations and Employment Rights Acts, the resilience of employment in Mauritius in the face of the world economic downturn, circular migration and the various strategies put in place by government to fuel job creation. From Dr. Otaala, Minister Chaumière learnt of the existence of high number of IT technicians coming out of Uganda training schools each year, which could be of interest to Mauritius to meet the demand in this field.

During their visit, the delegation from Uganda will be meeting officers from the Labour and Industrial Relations and from the Employment divisions of the Ministry. Meetings are also to be held with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Empowerment, the National Remuneration Board, the Mauritius Employers’ Federation and the Mauritius Trade Unions Organisation.