Africa-Press – Mauritius. A Ministerial Roundtable focusing on the theme ‘Building Partnerships for decent work, climate resilience, digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence in the Indian Ocean subregion’, kickstarted this morning, in the presence of the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations, Mr Muhammad Reza Cassam Uteem, at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation in Côte-d’Or Technopole.
Several dignitaries were present on the occasion, namely: the Minister of Labour, Employment and Public Service of the Republic of Madagascar, Mrs Soatiana Bety Léonne Florent; the Minister of Gender Promotion, Solidarity and Information of the Union of the Comoros, Mrs Fatima Ahamada; the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, Ms Lisa Simrique Singh; the Director of the International Labour Organisation Country Office for Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles, Mr Frederick Muia; and the Acting Director of the Indian Ocean Commission, Mrs Gina Bonne.
In his keynote address, Minister Uteem underpinned the importance of holding such regional dialogues to generate partnerships so as to better respond to common challenges. He welcomed the sharing of experience, expertise and perspectives on the common goals of ensuring decent work, strengthening climate resilience and tapping into Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation, which he said will translate into concrete actions.
Mr Uteem recalled that ensuring decent work is at the core of the agenda of his Ministry, emphasising that all workers alike, both local and foreigners, enjoy the same working conditions and privileges. He underscored the need to integrate the informal sector so that the concerned operators benefit from privileges such as social security and safety at work.
The Minister listed out key challenges, notably the growing ageing population amid a shrinking workforce, the increasing reliance on immigrant labour to address worker shortages, and the need to improve labour mobility across the regional islands.
As for Minister Florent, she said Island Nations share not only common vulnerabilities as well as opportunities. She expressed hope that they would jointly develop ambitious Partnership Charters, identify priority areas for action, and strengthen cooperation to ensure that ecological, digital, and economic transitions become drivers of decent job creation, social justice, and long-term progress for future generations.
According to Minister Ahamada, the Roundtable should signal a shift from reflection to concrete action, stressing that collective efforts could turn current challenges into tangible opportunities for the respective populations of participating countries. She also underscored the need to promote the inclusion of women and persons with disabilities in social, economic, and digital transformation efforts.
Ministerial Roundtable
The Ministerial Roundtable is being held as part of efforts to develop Partnership Charters in the Indian Ocean region and promote joint initiatives on social justice and decent work. The two-day meeting brings together Ministers responsible for employment and labour from Mauritius, the Union of the Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles, alongside social partners and key stakeholders. It aims to identify concrete commitments to foster an inclusive, human-centred digital transformation aligned with international labour standards.
The Roundtable aims to strengthen regional cooperation to uphold social justice and decent work; discuss employment and labour policies; and co-create Partnership Charters focused on promoting productive jobs. It also seeks to explore the development of decent work in the context of digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence, and to highlight South-South and triangular cooperation as a driver of solidarity and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
