Africa-Press – Mauritius. the work at the’ National Assembly was adjourned to Friday, January 24 at 15h. Last Friday’s session was marked by the vote of the Special Allowance Bill with amendments in anticipation of the payment of’a 14th month to employees receiving less than Rs 50,000. Besides the summing-uplabour Minister Reza Uteem and Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, who reported on the situation, as well as the minister of’Agro-industry, Arvin Boolell, the deputy of the’ opposition Adrien Duval also discussed the issue during the debates. The Prime Minister went back on the genesis and implementation of the 14th month of salary, strongly criticizing the former government’. He explained that the request for’a 14th month had been made as early as December 2023. At the time, MSM, under the leadership of Pravind Jugnauth, rejected this proposal, believing that’elle required consultations. Labor Minister Soodesh Callichurn even ruled the measure illegal, an opinion that did not prevent the announcement of its introduction a week before the general election.
Navin Ramgoolam referred to the decision as a desperate attempt to « l’ancien Premier minister » who, according to him, made this gesture « to win elections at all costs ». In particular, he stressed that the decision to pay a 14th month was dictated by electoral considerations, and not by a rigorous management of the’economie. « The Minister of Labour n’aait d’other choice than d’execute orders », he said, adding that the Cabinet, under the former’ Administration, was only’a facade where « everyone said yes » in the face of decisions taken.
Concerning the’introduction of the 14th month, he justified the decision to limit its payment to employees whose salary does not exceed Rs 50,000, explaining that’it was impossible to distribute this benefit to all civil servants. « We did the maximum, but we can not give the’argent that we do not’avons », he insisted, specifying that this measure will concern 90% of employees. « We had to make choices. This’is why Rs 50,000 has been set as a threshold », he said, while stressing that the’objective was to’help the greatest number without jeopardizing public finances.
In the wake, the Prime Minister thanked Kugan Parapen for his suggestion to split the 14th month payment into two tranches. This decision aims to avoid impulsive behaviors during the holidays of end of’year. « C’was a smart idea, and I thank Parapen for that », he stressed, adding that this measure contributes to better control of public finances, while supporting workers. Ashok Subron was also praised for his contributions. « We had very constructive discussions with Ashok Subron, and his contribution was decisive », he explained, before continuing : « We were lucky that the people chased the thugs from the previous government. »
Beyond the 14th month, Navin Ramgoolam largely denounced the damage caused by the previous’administration on the economy and institutions of the country. He referred to the state of « bankruptcy » of Metro Express, the State Trading Corporation and’Air Mauritius, noting that the country was now faced with the need to « save Air Mauritius ». Navin Ramgoolam did not fail to recall that the’old government had « squandered the finances of the country » and that’il was now imperative to restore the credibility of public institutions, which’il qualifies as « destroyed » by previous management. « They acted criminally », he insisted, citing examples like Gilbert Gnany’s resignation from the Statistics Board and accusations of manipulating economic figures.
The Prime Minister also criticized the’ approach « nepotist » and « corrupted » of the’old government, claiming that the population had voted for the’Alliance of Change « to regain freedom and’unity ». « The country is today’hui in the trash of’history », he said, before concluding : « We must rehabilitate our institutions and regain our reputation. »
At the end of his speech, the Prime Minister expressed his confidence in the ability of his government to redress the’economie, despite the difficulties. « It will be difficult, but we will succeed », he said, promising more transparent management and a recovery of public finances.
Adrien Duval, the PMSD’s remedial deputy, expressed concern during the debates on the Special Allowance Bill, stating that even though’il is favorable to the measure, the’exclusion of 55,000 employees, or about 10% of the labor force, of the beneficiaries is deplorable. According to him, this exclusion hits the middle class hard, often already under financial pressure. It is of the opinion that the inclusion of these workers in the 14th month’s scheme would have only a limited impact on public finances, representing about Rs 2 billion, a substantial part of which would be returned to the’ State in the form of taxes and social contributions.
Beyond this question, Adrien Duval focused on the silence of the’ex-minister of Finance, Renganaden Padayachy, and of the heads of independent institutions such as the director of’Audit and the’Acting Director of Statistics Mauritius, in the face of accusations of manipulation of economic figures. He asked for clarification on their roles and responsibilities in this context. He also insisted on the need for the GM to respect its commitments and’ to ensure social equity in the payment of the 14th month.
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