3% Labour Quota Law Fails to Deliver: Over 76,000 Disabled Remain Jobless

Only 6,009 Mauritians out of an estimated 82,815 working-age people with disabilities hold a job, according to figures provided by Social Security Minister Ashok Subron during parliamentary proceedings this Tuesday, 7 October. This stark reality reveals a significant employment crisis, with fewer than 7.3% of the eligible population currently in work.

Key Statistics and Unemployment Figures

The Minister, responding to a question in the National Assembly, detailed the employment landscape based on the Housing and Population Census 2022. The census recorded 86,607 people with disabilities in Mauritius, of whom 82,815 were aged 16 and over. Breaking down the status of the working-age group:

• Employed: 6,009 individuals.
• Retired: 42,674 individuals.
• Actively seeking employment: 927 individuals.

Public Sector and Private Sector Data Gaps

Minister Subron confirmed that 110 people with disabilities are currently employed within the public service.

However, the Ministry of Labour does not possess official data for the private sector. The Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board (TEDPB) register offers a partial view, indicating that 527 people with disabilities are currently signed up as job or training seekers.

The TEDPB register also lists approximately 900 employers who employ more than 35 people each, making them subject to legal employment quotas.

Legal Quota and Upcoming Reforms

The Minister referenced the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Act of 1996, which mandates that companies with 35 or more employees must reserve 3% of their posts for people with disabilities.

Subron also announced a series of reforms currently in preparation. His ministry is working on a major overhaul of disability-related pensions which will now incorporate an employability component. This new system will include an evaluation of professional capabilities for those concerned. Individuals identified through this process will be directed towards the TEDPB or, eventually, the proposed National Empowerment Authority.

The employment figures highlight a serious shortfall in the integration of people with disabilities into the Mauritian workforce, despite existing legislation.

Source: Le Mauricien