Xavier-Luc Duval, leader of the opposition, expressed his views during debates on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, advocating for the reintroduction of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) system as it existed before 2015.
He criticized the National CSR Foundation, which replaced the previous system, stating that it turned company contributions into a form of disguised tax.
Duval highlighted the importance of volunteers, passion, and a sense of mission in the CSR sector, emphasizing the need to return to the previous model.
Duval noted that Mauritius has around 84,400 people with disabilities, constituting 7% of the population. He criticized the timing of the legislation, coming just before the upcoming general elections, despite the government being in power for nine years since 2015.
He welcomed the financial benefits outlined in the bill but stressed the importance of providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities to ensure their respect and dignity.
Duval criticized the government for not fulfilling its role in creating Gainful Employment for this segment of the population.
He raised concerns about the inefficiency of the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board in fulfilling its mandate to create job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Duval appreciated the provision mandating a 3% employment quota for people with disabilities in companies with over 200 employees but questioned the practical implementation.
He suggested that the government should lead by example by employing people with disabilities in the public sector.
Duval also addressed the inclusion of people with disabilities in the education system, emphasizing the need for specialized education for this group.
He praised the consideration of disabled individuals in housing construction programs but called for ensuring that the interiors of these homes are also disability-friendly.
He criticized fraudulent claims for disability pensions and called for stricter measures to prevent abuse.
The debates on the bill were adjourned until next Tuesday after interventions from Minister Kalpana Koonjoo-Shah, Parliamentary Private Secretary Francisco François, and MPs Arianne Navarre-Marie and Reza Uteem.
Duval’s remarks shed light on the various issues surrounding the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in Mauritius and the challenges that need to be addressed in the legislative framework.
Source: Le Mauricien
