Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the hon. Third Member from Rodrigues for raising this issue which is causing a considerable inconvenience to workers in Rodrigues who have to sue their employers who are domiciled in Mauritius. The Rodrigues Labour Office is under the purview of the Commission for Tourism, Employment, Labour and Industrial Relations, Information Technology and Telecommunication of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly. However, I am informed that since 2023, 66 cases have been registered at my Ministry for employers domiciled in the island of Mauritius for enquiry and possible Court action which involves employees from Rodrigues. Out of those 66 cases, 48 cases in respect of which inquiry has been completed have been referred back to Rodrigues Labour Office for necessary action. 10 cases are still under inquiry at the level of my Ministry. Three cases concern reinstatement, of which, two were referred to the Employment Relations Tribunal where an agreement was reached between the parties and both workers were reinstated. As far as the third case for reinstatement is concerned, although the termination of work was justified, the parties agreed to reach an out-of-court settlement through an Ex-Gratia payment. In regard to the five remaining cases, four workers have withdrawn their complaints among others due to cost implication relating to attendance at the Industrial Court in Mauritius while the last remaining case has been referred back to Rodrigues Labour Office for further inquiry prior to lodging a case before the Industrial Court of Mauritius. Madam Speaker, as regards the issue of territorial jurisdiction to lodge a case, I am informed that prior to October 2020, it had been the practice for officers of the Rodrigues Labour Office to lodge cases against defaulting employers, including those domiciled in Mauritius before the Industrial Court (Rodrigues Division), so before the Industrial Court in Rodrigues. However, following a ruling delivered on 26 October 2020 in the matter of Jean Johnson Begue and Miss Arielle Dulcy Andre against Mauritours Ltd by the Industrial Court (Rodrigues Division), the Court held that the Court of Rodrigues is not competent to hear cases where a defendant employer is domiciled in Mauritius. Mr Begue had on 10 November 2020 written to the Chief Justice of Mauritius, requesting a review of the said ruling. However, on 24 November 2020, Mr Begue was informed that the Reviewing Authority had found no valid reason to review the decision and his application was set aside. Since then, all cases where employers are domiciled in the island of Mauritius have to be lodged before the Industrial Court in Mauritius. Madam Speaker, as there is considerable inconvenience for a labour dispute involving a worker residing in Rodrigues Island and his employer domiciled in Mauritius to be resolved before the Industrial Court in Mauritius, my Ministry is taking up the matter with the Attorney General’s Office with a view to finding an appropriate solution.

Thank you. Yes?

Merci beaucoup pour la réponse, honorable ministre. Je voudrais quand même vous demander, dans les cas où le tribunal industriel de Rodrigues n’a pas juridiction et où le travailleur est contraint d’intenter une action à Maurice, l’honorable ministre peut-il indiquer si une aide financière ou une assistance juridique sera fournie à ces travailleurs, afin de couvrir les frais de déplacement et d’hébergement ou s’il se voit effectivement refuser l’accès à la justice en raison des contraintes géographiques et financières ? Merci.

Madame la présidente, pour l’instant il n’y pas d’assistance financière qu’est offerte aux travailleurs rodriguais qui doivent à Maurice, faire le déplacement pour loger leur affaire en cour. Comme je vous dis, on est en train d’étudier avec le bureau de l’Attorney General, avec bien sûr le concours du Chief Justice, si on ne pourrait pas faire entendre les cas par la cour industrielle à Rodrigues elle-même. On pourrait aussi éventuellement envisager une situation où la cour puisse ordonner à l’employeur – s’il est trouvé coupable – d’indemniser les frais de déplacement du travailleur rodriguais. Mais, tout cela est à l’étude entre mon ministère et le bureau de l’Attorney General.

Yes, okay. Il y a d’autres solutions.

Well replied.

Il y a d’autres solutions. Hon. Seeburn! CONSTITUENCY NO. 11 – ROAD SAFETY – IMPROVEMENT