Post Office Crisis: 70-Officer Shortage Frustrates Mauritians

The public postal service has been on a downward spiral over the past few years, and the problem is not limited to a specific region.

On Tuesday May 7, Labour Party MP Fabrice David highlighted the issues faced by his constituents, particularly those in Pointe-aux-Sables and surrounding areas, during a parliamentary session.

However, this is not an isolated issue; many Mauritians are struggling to access postal services due to long wait times and inadequate facilities.

Regardless of the weather, those who need postal services, including the elderly, are forced to wait in line, often for hours, subject to the whims of the weather.

In many post offices, only one counter is open between 11 am and 4 pm, making it even more challenging for those seeking assistance.

While the postal service offers a range of services beyond its primary function of mail delivery, such as bill payment and vehicle license renewal, it is struggling to provide adequate services to many regions.

The question on many Mauritians’ minds is why the postal service accepts commissions for services like utility bill payment and vehicle license renewal, despite its inability to meet customer demands.

According to Narendranath Gopee, President of the National Trade Union Confederation, there are significant staffing shortages in the postal service.

“We have a shortage of 70 postal officers out of 84 post offices. We requested recruitment last month, and only 27 new officers were hired. This means there is still a shortage of officers,” he explained.

With the rise of e-commerce, customers seeking services can wait for up to 20 minutes at a counter. “I understand the frustration of the public, and we must urgently recruit more officers,” Gopee emphasized.

The Ministry of Technology, Information, and Innovation has acknowledged the issue and assured that measures are being taken to address it.

Source: l’Express