Tourism Authority Employee Files Complaint Against Ousted Chairman for ‘Humiliation’

A Tourism Authority (TA) employee has formally filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour against former chairman José Arunasalom, alleging workplace “humiliation” and verbal aggression.

The move, supported by legal counsel Me Lovena Sowkhee on Monday, March 9, follows the Cabinet’s decision to suspend Mr Arunasalom last Friday, 6 March.

Allegations of Workplace Violence

The employee claims to have suffered a burnout due to incidents occurring within her professional environment.

Speaking on behalf of her client, Me Sowkhee emphasised that Mauritian labour laws strictly prohibit violence in the workplace, including verbal abuse and aggressive tones.

“My client felt humiliated by the way she was spoken to,” Me Sowkhee stated, noting that workplace violence can carry a prison sentence of up to five years.

Internal Conflict and Suspension

The complaint comes just days after the Council of Ministers suspended Mr Arunasalom on March 6.

The Minister of Tourism confirmed the suspension was prompted by several internal grievances regarding the former chairman’s conduct toward staff members.

Arunasalom’s Defence: ‘A Matter of Discipline’

Mr Arunasalom has vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as “completely false” and “cowardly.”

In a statement published in Le Défi Quotidien, he argued that the accusations are a backlash against his attempts to reform the organisation.

He claimed that:

• The Tourism Authority had lacked leadership for months, leading to a “lack of discipline.”
• The new Board’s efforts to restore order were met with resentment from staff “settled in their comfort zones.”
• Anonymous letters used against him are “defamatory.”

“In Mauritius, when you introduce discipline, people are not happy,” Mr Arunasalom said. “They call it brutality or aggression. It is completely false.”

The former chairman maintains there is no evidence to compromise his position and expressed his “disgust” at the allegations.

Source: Defi Media