Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, lodging accommodation for foreign migrant workers is governed by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2005 and the Occupational Safety and Health Employees Lodging Accommodation Regulation 2011. With regard to Part (a) of the question, I am informed that the expected time frame for an inspection to be carried out by officers of my Ministry upon receipt of an application for Lodging Accommodation Permit, is normally 5 working days. However, I am informed that the lodging accommodating permit is usually issued within a month after receipt of the application at the National Occupational Safety and Health department of my Ministry.

70 Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it should however be noted that when submitting an application for lodging accommodation permit to my Ministry, health and fire clearance should accompany the application and the obtention of those clearances from the Ministry of Health and Wellness and from the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Services may take quite some time even several months. The reason for that is very often, the accommodation has to be modified physically to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Health and fire clearances. Now, the inter-ministerial committee set up to look into the whole issue of migrant workers is considering how to streamline the process to reduce the time it takes to get the lodging accommodation permit. For the time being, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, an applicant wishing to recruit foreign workers needs to get the lodging accommodation permit first and then apply for the work permit. While he is applying for the work permit, he has to pay rent sometimes for several months. So, what is being proposed by the committee now is to have a system of parallel application. So, at the time an employer will apply for a work permit, at the same time, he will apply for a lodging accommodation permit. Then, once he receives it, he will be able to do it. Consideration is also being given to the possibility of issuing lodging accommodation permit to the owner of the building who will then be able to lease the whole or part of the building to different employers. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning part (b) of the question, the number of permits which have been granted in Constituency No. 6, Grand Baie and Poudre d’Or for the period 2019 to 2024, including both new and renewed permits, is 229. I am tabling the breakdown of the number of permits issued in Constituency No. 6 from 2019 to 2024.

Yes, hon. Jhummun!

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Can the hon. Minister inform the House, once such a permit has been provided, how frequent inspections are made and what are the measures taken for non-compliance? Thank you.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, inspections are regularly carried out after a LAP has been issued either on an ad hoc basis or following a complaint received from either the migrant worker or more often from the trade unionists. For example, for the period 2024 to February 2025, 91 follow up visits were carried out at the employee’s lodging accommodation, including joint visits with the Ministry of Health and the Mauritius Fire Services.

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Next question!

What actions are taken for non-compliance?

Well, for the time being, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Occupational Safety and Health (Employees' Lodging Accommodation) Regulations 2011 makes provision, under Regulation 23, for the enforcement authority – usually, it is my Ministry – to serve an enforcement notice on the employer so that he has a delay to comply with that enforcement notice. If not, then, the lodging accommodation permit is revoked and the employer will then have to make alternative provisions to accommodate the employees.

Yes, the hon. Fourth Member for Rodrigues, hon. Edouard! 14th MONTH BONUS – PAYMENT – NON-COMPLIANCE