Madam Speaker, over the past few years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of applications received for permits at my Ministry from 36,129 in 2023 to 50,274 in 2025, representing an increase of about 36%. The main types of permits issued by the Employment Division of my Ministry are – Work permits; Certificate of Exemption, and Employment Permits. Madam Speaker, for the period June 2025 to March 2026, a total of 41,833 applications were received by my Ministry, out of which 33,100 have already been completed and 8,733 are pending. I need to point out that 6,383 of those pending applications were received over the period January to March 2026. Madam Speaker, following the implementation of the recommendation of the Interministerial Committee on work permits issues, the procedure to apply for a work permit for foreign worker has been simplified considerably. We have replaced the former quota system with the requirement to show the inability to recruit locally and we have extended the recruitment of foreign labour to all sectors of the economy, including domestic workers. As a result, the number of applications received for foreign workers has substantially increased. However, the number of staff that has to deal with those applications has not been increased and this is the main cause of delay in processing the applications. Madam Speaker, there are other reasons also for the delay in processing pending applications and these include – 1. Submission of incomplete or incorrect application by employers. There have been cases where more than ten times the application has gone back forth to the employers due to missing documents. 2. Some companies have not regularised the situation of their workers working without a permit so they need to regularise the situation. First, in that respect, some 3,000 cases of illegal employment have been regularised. 3. Whenever complains are registered against employers at the Special Migrant Unit of my Ministry, my Ministry has to ensure that the dispute is satisfactory resolved before they allow the employer to apply for new foreign workers. 4. There are also delays in obtaining clearances from relevant authorities. Some of these delays are due to the country of origin of the foreign worker. For example, workers from Madagascar require special clearance from the Embassy of Madagascar. With regard to Bangladeshi workers, there are additional security clearances at the level of the Prime Minister’s Office which result in delay in processing work permit application. 5. Some applications are kept in abeyance due to breach by the employer of the provisions of the Non-Citizens (Employment Restriction) Act by employers. 6. There are also delays in obtaining recommendations from concerned Ministries and Departments. Presently, almost half of the pending applications relate to the construction sector. These applications require the recommendations of the Ministry of National Infrastructure prior to the grant of permits. Similarly, in the Agricultural Sector, inspections have to be carried out on site before the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries submits its views on the applications. These requirements imposed by the parent Ministry inevitably leads to a delay in processing of work permit. 7. Finally, one of the main causes of the delay is the non-payment or delay in payment of prescribed fees by employers. Madam Speaker, I however wish to inform the House that around 78% of applications for work permit have been completed within the prescribed time-frame of 21 days after payment of the processing fees. In view of the significant increase in the number of applications received, my Ministry has taken several measures to expedite processing. Since 01 September 2025, work permits are being issued electronically with a QR code to employers, thereby eliminating the need for printing of permits and manual signature and companies have to go to the Ministry to collect the permits. To date 17,850 work permits have been issued digitally. There is also enhancement being brought to the National Electronic Licensing System to improve efficiency and applicants have been provided with online payment facility. My Ministry is in the process of acquiring new computers which are more efficient and can handle large documentation speedily. Lastly, but not least, a request has been made in the forthcoming budget for additional staff for the processing of the application. Madam Speaker, I am tabling the breakdown of the pending application sector-wise.

Yes, Mr Beejan!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Given the numbers the hon. Minister has just stated, employers across various sectors are facing genuine economic distress due to lack of staff, will the hon. Minister table the number of application respective to different countries and also ensure that specific measures are taken, including posting of additional staff from other sections at the Ministry to clear the existing backlog of work permit applications and for the future applications, so that employers are not repeatedly subjected to such delays? Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I am tabling the breakdown of work permit issued country-wise as at 28 February 2026. Madam Speaker, as I have mentioned in my reply quite lengthily, we are doing our best at the level of Ministry with a limited resources that we have to process speedily all the applications. But the hon. Member should appreciate that everybody is looking for foreign workers now, foreign domestic workers or the SMEs, all those sectors that previously were not able to recruit foreign workers because of the quota system, they are all now making applications. So, we are, at the level of my Ministry doing our best and as I said, you know if we get the additional funding in the coming budget, we will again be able to clear the backlog. Thank you.

Okay! Yes, Mr Rookny!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Could the hon. Minister please advise if upon turning down applications for work permits, whether applicants are made aware of the reasons why the applications are turned down?

Madam Speaker, all the applications are done electronically on a national platform which is operated by the Economic Development Board and it is through that platform that there is exchange of information. So, as I said, you know, a lot of the reasons why applications may be turned down is sometime missing documents, so the applicant will know why it is turned down. But otherwise, you know if there are other reasons why the applications are being turned down, again, I have given instruction to my officers to explain to the applicant why the application is turned down and I need to point out that we have gotten rid of the previous system of appeal whereby the Minister was rejecting the application and then the applicant was making an appeal to the Minister himself to overrule his decision.

Okay. One, two, three.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can the hon. Minister inform the House as to whether, there is any restriction with regard to any specific country or is the application for the recruitment of foreign workers open worldwide?

Madam Speaker, there is no restriction on the recruitment of foreign workers country wise. However, there are certain additional security clearances that are required from applicants from certain specific countries.

Mr Beechook, yes.

Madam Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Minister whether applications are open to Bangladeshi residents, and if yes, are they open to all the sectors or restricted to specific professions?

Cabinet has decided a few months ago, Madam Speaker, to allow the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in certain designated sectors like printing, textile, bakery and other scarcity areas. Now, in deciding scarcity areas, my Ministry relies on the list provided by HRDC which has a list of scarcity areas. For example, even in construction, there are certain types of scarce labour where local workers are not available in Mauritius and therefore, a Bangladeshi is eligible to apply for that works.

Yes, Mr Ramkalawon.

Following the pending applications, can the hon. Minister consider the workers that require specific skills such as driving to go through the EDB, as well?

Madam Speaker, in the case of drivers, I have to say that before my Ministry allowed foreign drivers to come, we had consultation with the Ministry of Land Transport but also with the Commissioner of Police and now, we require all foreign drivers to have a valid international driving licence and they have to undertake a course given by MITD on Sécurité Routière once they are here. So, for each sector, we stand guided by the parent ministry. The parent ministry will tell us what are the specific requirements which the foreign labour must have, the specific skills that he needs to have in order to be given the work permit.

Good. Hon. Fourth Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue. POLICE DE L’ENVIRONNEMENT – POSTING OF STAFF – BOOKED CONTRAVENTIONS