Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed that on 31 October 2020, 13 employees employed under different entities following the State Investment Corporation Management Services Co Ltd. were suspended with pay. These entities are Sun Casino Ltd., Beach Casino Ltd., Le Grand Casino du Domaine Ltd., and Casino de Maurice Ltd. The administrative and Human Resource Department is based at Casino de Maurice Ltd., located in Curepipe. According to records available at my Ministry, the employees were suspended following a serious incident at Le Grand Casino du Domaine Ltd., which occurred on the night shift of Sunday 25 October 2020 to Monday 26 October 2020, whilst they were on duty. The incident involved, but was not limited to the following – • heavy betting by punters with 5,000 value chips up to Rs80,000; • bet on one even chance, bet of up to Rs240,000 by punters per spin, and • heavy payment made to punters in excess of Rs1 million. Management considered that the employees have committed acts of gross misconduct and informed them that an investigation was being carried out in that respect. The employees were thus suspended with pay with immediate effect. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed that further to investigation carried out by the Administrative and Human Resource Department of the group, the employees were issued with their respective letters detailing the particulars of charges against them and requesting them to appear individually before disciplinary committees. The hearing of the disciplinary committees was held on different dates in 2021. I am further informed that upon completion of these disciplinary hearings; five employees were individually issued with a severe warning as their acts and doings and omissions, at all material times, were considered as serious and contrary to their work conditions. However, the remaining eight workers had their employment terminated on the ground of gross misconduct. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, six out of those eight employees whose employment were terminated, solicited the conciliation services of my Ministry to claim their reinstatement. Despite seven conciliation meetings held at the level of the Conciliation and Mediation Section of my Ministry, the Employer, State Investment Corporation Management Services Company Ltd., refused to reinstate them on the ground that the employees had been found guilty of gross misconduct. As conciliation was unsuccessful, all eight employees registered their complaint for termination of employment at my Ministry against their respective casino employers. My Ministry then conducted an inquiry into the complaint and tried to resolve the matter amicably. However, no settlement was reached. The worker was subsequently admitted to the workfare programme, and between August and October 2023, my Ministry lodged cases before the Industrial Court to claim termination dues on behalf of the eight employees, whose employment had been terminated. Subsequently, the employees decided to retain the services of their own attorney and counsel to pursue the matter further at the Industrial Court. Accordingly, because they had retained services of counsel and attorney, my Ministry had to withdraw from all eight cases in April and May 2024.

Hon. Quirin! PAMPLEMOUSSES SC TO GRSE WANDERERS - MR F. B.’S TRANSFER – FCC INQUIRY