Madam Speaker, I shall reply to Parliamentary Questions B/151 and B/158 together, as they relate to the same subject matter. In regard to part (a) of the questions, I am informed that as at 27 March 2026, 64,165 foreign workers are employed in Mauritius, of whom 50,234 are holders of work permits under the Non-Citizens (Employment Restriction) Act and 13,931 are holders of occupation permits under the Immigration Act. The main sectors in which they are employed include manufacturing, construction, agriculture, tourism, and SMEs. I am also informed by the Passport and Immigration Office that as at 27 March 2026, 6,926 foreign workers, are overstaying in Mauritius. The details are as follows – (i) 2,819 have been reported as missing by their employers and their work permits have been cancelled; (ii) 2,698 have expired work permits and are awaiting renewal thereof, and (iii) 1,409 have expired work permits and no applications for renewal were submitted. I am tabling the nationalities of the overstaying foreign workers. Madam Speaker, as at 27 March 2026, 6,656 foreign students hold valid residence permits. Foreign students are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week without the need for any work permit. The Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations is considering to review the existing policy to require concerned institutions to apply for work permits to allow foreign students to work for a maximum period of 20 hours. With regard to part (b) of the questions, the Tracing and Tracking Team of the Passport and Immigration Office in collaboration with other units and branches of the Police Force do regular crackdown operations throughout the island. For the year 2025, 97 such operations were carried out resulting in the arrest and repatriation of 944 foreigners. Since the beginning of this year, 24 crackdown operations were carried out and 151 foreigners were repatriated. Madam Speaker, to ensure compliance by employers within the current legislations, I am informed that the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations is not issuing new work permits unless and until the concerned employers have taken the necessary measures to renew the expired work permits of foreign workers or to repatriate them. Madam Speaker, my Government is very concerned about the problem of foreign workers overstaying in the country and is coming up with the following measures to address the matter – (i) a combined work and residence permit with the inclusion of a QR code, which would allow labour inspectors or Police to verify the real-time status of the work and residence permits during surprise visits. (ii) A rules-based work permit system will be implemented which would also include an accreditation framework for employers to make them more responsible and liable for the foreign workers they recruit.

Yes, hon. Beechook! Are you okay? Hon. Rookny first! Oh, I am sorry, is it all right?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Could the hon. Prime Minister please advise the House what problems are the Police or PIO having in policing these overstaying workers?

It is a good question. The problem is: they seem to disappear in thin air. So, the Police are looking for them. I have also asked the Commissioner of Police, in fact, to strengthen the crack team that is doing the work in cooperation, including the SMF, if need be.

Yes, hon. Leader of the Opposition!

Madam Speaker, may I ask the hon. Prime Minister to confirm the following: in reply to a PQ, the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations stated that some 3,000 cases of illegal employment have been regularised. Do we understand that they have made something illegal legal?

Employees.

No, no. Very often, what happens is that they have submitted their application for a permit – if I am not mistaken – and it’s been going through the system.

Okay, we have finished with that issue. Hon. Third Member for Beau Bassin & Petite Rivière. APPRENTICE JOCKEYS & JOCKEYS – GRANTING OF LICENCES – INSURANCE REQUIREMENT