Madam Speaker, the employment of foreign workers under a work permit is governed by the Non-Citizens (Employment Restriction) Act. The Act makes provisions, amongst others, for guidelines which sets out the steps to be taken by the applicant and the documents to be provided when applying for a work permit. Application for a work permit in respect of foreign workers, including foreign football players, must be submitted via the National e-Licensing System (NELS) of the Economic Development Board. At the time of application, the club should submit – • a covering letter from the relevant club, specifying the player’s accommodation details; • Domestic Transfer Certificate or an International Transfer Certificate, as the case may be; • a recent cashflow statement from the applicant for the specified season; • a No Objection Letter from the Mauritius Football Association, indicating the season during which the player will participate and the name of the receiving club; • additional supporting documents such as the club’s Certificate of Association; • a passport size photograph of the player; • a copy of the player’s valid passport; • provisional medical clearance valid for six months; • a vetted employment contract, and • a No Objection Letter from the previous employer for inter-club transfer.

63 Madam Speaker, work permits for foreign players are issued for one season at a time and may be renewed for an additional season subject to the approval of the residence permit by the Prime Minister’s Office. Players must be aged between 18 and 60 years. The general conditions attached to the employment of non-citizens, including foreign players, are as follows – • A work permit is issued to a particular non-citizen and the work permit is not transferrable. • The non-citizen is not permitted to seek or accept alternative employment while in Mauritius or to engage in any trade, art or gainful occupation. • The permit should be kept by the holder and produced to any authorised person on demand or within three days after demand at such police station as may be specified by the authorised person at the time of the demand. • The permit may be varied or cancelled at any time. Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports that the present policy is to allow football clubs to recruit up to three foreign players for the Super League and up to two foreign players for the National First Division League. Moreover, in order to ensure quality players, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has requested the National Sports Federation to include in their internal rules that local clubs would only be allowed to recruit foreign players who have played at the highest national division of their country of origin for the last two years.

Question!

À son niveau, l’honorable ministre a-t-il reçu des représentations officielles de la Mauritius Football Association en vue d’augmenter le quota de joueurs étrangers par club de trois à cinq ? Si oui, quelles sont les raisons qui ont été avancées par la MFA par rapport à cette demande ?

Madam Speaker, I am not aware of the request to increase the number of footballers from the MFA. It will be directed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. My Ministry will stand guided by whatever policy is decided at the level of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

64

Yes!

Une dernière question.

Oui, allez-y!

Madame la présidente, le ministre peut-il informer la Chambre des mesures mises en place pour s’assurer que les règlements ne soient pas contournés, notamment dans les cas où un joueur professionnel est recruté alors qu’il est initialement entré à Maurice sous le statut de travailleur ?

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member should know that work permit is issued by my Ministry, but residence permit is issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. So, very often, when a foreign worker comes to Mauritius on a tourist visa, he is not allowed to then apply for a work permit. The Prime Minister’s Office will object to it. So, in the case that the hon. Member has mentioned, probably, the Prime Minister’s Office will object to a work permit being issued to the foreign football player.

Okay, next question! The hon. Second Member for Rodrigues! RODRIGUES HEALTH SERVICES – MEDICAL HEALTH AUDIT – STRATEGIC IMPROVEMENTS