Former Employees of PADCO Ltd Seek Government Support Amid Job Crisis

Former employees of PADCO Ltd have reached out to Labour Minister Reza Uteem, urgently seeking assistance for their challenging circumstances. This week, Fayzal Ally Beegun, a dedicated union representative and ex-employee of the defunct company, met with Uteem to discuss the plight of hundreds of workers left without stable employment or adequate compensation.

For more than four years, uncertainty has plagued these employees. Since PADCO Ltd entered voluntary administration in 2020, several hundred workers have struggled with joblessness and financial instability.

During their meeting, a group of distraught former workers, led by Beegun, implored Minister Uteem to review the company’s records. Their request is straightforward yet urgent: they seek justice after enduring years of hardship and stagnation.

While some individuals have secured temporary work, the majority continue to face precarious living conditions, striving to support their families. Beegun, advocating for nearly 400 former employees still searching for stable jobs, emphasized their need for a viable solution.

Emotions ran high during the discussions with Uteem as workers voiced their frustration and disappointment, recalling the government’s unfulfilled promises since 2020. “They have placed all their hope in the minister,” Beegun remarked, highlighting the need for the government to honor its commitments to those affected.

PADCO

To grasp the severity of this social crisis, one must consider the events of August 2020. PADCO Ltd, once a significant player in the construction industry, was thrust into voluntary administration, leading to the sudden dismissal of nearly 900 employees, including both Mauritian nationals and foreign workers.

This decision followed the St-Louis Gate scandal, which had already shaken the nation. As the main contractor for a controversial energy project, PADCO Ltd found itself in a dire financial situation.

Despite the challenges, the government pledged support for the laid-off employees. On November 20, 2020, the Cabinet recognized the need for dismissed workers to receive their wages through the Wage Guarantee Fund.

Now, after years of waiting in distress, a glimmer of hope emerges following their meeting with Minister Uteem. For these former employees, each day is not just a struggle for survival, but a battle for dignity and justice in the face of adversity.

Source: l’Express