Suspicions are brewing as Mauritius adopts a significant shift in its foreign labour landscape. Over the past three months, a purported modification in workforce policy allegedly favours Indian workers over their Bangladeshi counterparts.
This apparent policy pivot is officially attributed to claims of Bangladeshi workers abandoning their legitimate jobs, opting for informal and often illegal activities.
However, the government’s shift has reportedly been met with skepticism, prompting speculation about the real motivations behind this transition.
Mauritius has traditionally welcomed a diverse foreign workforce to bolster key sectors. Yet, the government’s sudden preference for Indian labour has ignited suspicions about the treatment of Bangladeshi workers.
Faizal Ally Beegun, a trade unionist who focuses on foreign labour matters, has criticised the perceived sidelining of Bangladeshi workers, suggesting that the government’s motives are unclear.
“The Prime Minister and the Ministry of Labour must reveal the true reasons behind this foreign workforce reorientation. I have information suggesting a significant number of requests for Bangladeshi worker recruitment are being denied. The government is hiding behind the fleeing of Bangladeshi workers from their workplaces. However, a considerable number of foreigners, including Indians and Nepalese, are also abandoning their jobs,” Begun was cited as telling Defi Media.
While a government source anonymously claimed that this shift is designed to ensure a stable labour market, doubts linger that the policy adjustment might be a façade, disguising deeper political or economic motivations for favouring Indian labour.
Over the past 30 years, 78,028 Bangladeshis found work in Mauritius, reaching a peak of 7,570 in 2019.
Source: Defi Media
