Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that lodging accommodation for migrant workers and other guest employees are governed by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2005 and the Occupational Safety and Health (Employees’ Lodging Accommodation) Regulation of 2011. Regulation 6 of the regulation provides that no employer shall use a building as a lodging accommodation unless he holds a Lodging Accommodation Permit (LAP), in respect of that lodging accommodation. Enforcement of the regulation is ensured by the Employees’ Lodging Accommodation Section of the National Occupational Safety and Health Department of my Ministry. Madam Speaker, with regard to part (a) of the question, I wish to inform the hon. Member that as per advice tendered by the Attorney General’s Office and in view of the provisions of the Data Protection Act, it would not be proper to circulate the names of the potential employers who applied for the LAP. Over the past six months, that is, from October 2025 till March 2026, 318 applications were received at my Ministry, in respect of which, 220 permits have, as at date, been issued. In addition, 14 applications have been approved, but the applicants have not yet been effected payment of the appropriate fees for the issue of the LAP. Pending cases are as follows – • for 18 applications, payment of permit fees has been effected, and same are being processed for issue of permit; • for 5 applications, letters of compliance are being awaited from the employers, and • for 2 applications, amended clearances are being awaited from the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. As regards the remaining 59 applications, these will be determined at the meeting of the Lodging Accommodation Committee, established under the Regulation, scheduled for today itself. Madam Speaker, the average time taken between submission of the LAP application and the conduct of the first inspection by my Ministry is 21 days. Concerning part (b) of the question, I am informed that the ELA Section of my Ministry has conducted 413 inspections in respect of 318 applications submitted by potential employers over the past six months. Accordingly, I am tabling the number of potential employers who have submitted application for LAP over the past six months, together with the respective dates of the applications, and dates of visits carried out for the various lodging accommodations.

Yes, hon. Beejan!

No!

You have not finished?

I have not finished. I am just tabling this. Madam Speaker, I wish to highlight that as at date, out of 84 established posts in the NOSH Department of my Ministry, only 56 officers are physically in post. With regard to the section dealing with LAP application, out of 14 funded posts, there are five vacancies, that is, one third. So, we have a big staffing problem at the Ministry. On average, my Ministry receives more than 50 new applications for LAP every month and the number is increasing. Despite all efforts, it has not been possible to reduce the time taken to process LAP applications in view of the increasing number of applications and the acute shortage of staff at the NOSH Department. Madam Speaker, while there is an increase in the demand for migrant workers from employers, my Ministry has also received several complaints from citizens regarding the operation of lodging accommodation in residential areas. With a view to reducing mushrooming of lodging accommodations throughout the island and mitigating these challenges, my Ministry is coming up with a centralised lodging accommodation regulation which will be promulgated shortly. It is at the level of the Attorney General’s Office. These regulations will allow several employers to house their workers in a centralised dormitory, of which, the owner will be the licence holder. This is going to greatly reduce the application for LAP going forward. Thank you.

Yes, hon. Beejan!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Given the financial strain on small businesses from waiting for an inspection of lodging accommodation or issue of work permit, will the hon. Minister consider to recruit more officers and posting be done in those two specific departments in order to relief SMEs or other businesses? Thank you.

I totally agree with the hon. Member. We are making the request, and I hope there will be a positive response from the Ministry of Finance in the coming budget.

Thank you. That’s it? The hon. Third Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière! MASA – CISAC MEMBERSHIP & REQUIREMENTS