Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - Report No 329, November 2002

Case No 2106 (Mauritius) - Complaint date: 23-OCT-00 - Closed

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

1. 76. The Committee examined this case at its March 2002 meeting [see 327th Report, paras. 84-88] concerning two distinct issues: (a) the annulment of a decision, made by the previous government on the eve of a general election, to pay an interim increase to public servants; and (b) the failure to apply an agreement, also concluded on the eve of a general election, on various conditions of work on a state-owned sugar milling enterprise. On that occasion, the Committee had noted that, notwithstanding the parties’ differing appreciation on the nature and extend of the consultations and discussions which were held, a national tripartite meeting took place, which led to salary increases being granted to public servants on a sliding scale in favour of the lowest-paid category of personnel. The Committee further noted that private and public sector workers alike will henceforth get a statutory yearly bonus, which complements the compensation package. Noting that no judicial proceedings have been filed concerning the claim for Rs300, which claim might be taken up with the Pay Research Bureau (PRB) as part of the ongoing salary review exercise, the Committee requested the Government to keep it informed of the outcome, if any, of these PRB proceedings. Noting that the Government intends to take into account its previous conclusions and recommendations as regards the situation at the Rose Belle Sugar Estate, the Committee requested the Government to keep it informed of developments in this respect.
2. 77. The Government states in a communication of 1 June 2002 that the PRB has invited trade unions to submit memoranda for its consideration in the context of the current salary review exercise. Most of the trade unions have already submitted their memoranda and the PRB is presently conducting consultations with them. The report of the PRB is due in July 2003. The Mauritius Labour Congress has been informed in July 2001 by the Ministry of Finance that it may, if it so wishes, take up the matter with the PRB in the context of the ongoing review exercise of the public sector pay and grading. The Government points out that the president of the Federation of the Civil Service Union has made a public statement after the recommendations of the Committee on Freedom of Association that the ILO has been misled and that it refuses to discuss the issue of Rs300 with the PRB. The Government also indicates that two national tripartite meetings were held in May 2002 where all the federations of trade unions were present to discuss the payment of salary compensation; the unions were briefed about the economic situation and the constraints which the country has to face as a result of the international events and the violent cyclone which caused extensive damage last year. The Government agreed to pay, from 1 July 2002, a compensation of 6.5 per cent in favour of the lowest-paid category of personnel.
3. 78. Regarding the Rose Belle Sugar Estate issue, the Government indicates that since September 2001 several meetings, chaired by the Chairman/General Manager of the Rose Belle Sugar Estate, have been held with the union representatives where they were briefed on the Rose Belle Sugar Estate’s financial situation. Two unions have declared a trade dispute at the Permanent Arbitration Tribunal on the issue of the introduction of a 40-hour week during crop season on the basis of a five-day week, payment of overtime to workers in certain occupations, increase of the prescribed rates in the Remuneration Order by 11 per cent or otherwise; the matter is still under the Tribunal’s consideration. A judicial proceeding has also been filed by the Artisans’ and General Workers’ Unions concerning the non-implementation of the 40-hour week during crop season and the non-payment of the remaining balance of arrears from 1 January 1998 to November 1999; after several postponements, the case was struck off as the complainants were absent on the day of court hearing. The Rose Belle Sugar Estate has closed down since December 2001 because of its precarious financial situation. Prior to its closure, meetings were held with the union representatives and the workers, who were informed of the developments. Negotiations were held with the workers concerning the compensation and other benefits granted to them; the Government states that the employees concerned were fully satisfied with it.
4. 79. The Committee notes this information and requests the Government to inform it of the final decision concerning the claim for Rs300 as an interim increase to public servants, as a result of a previous decision of the authorities.