ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONTINUES CONSIDERING REPORT OF MAURITIUS
Press Release
HR/4251
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONTINUES CONSIDERING REPORT OF MAURITIUS
19951129 GENEVA, 27 November (United Nations Information Service) -- The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon continued its consideration of the report of Mauritius, focusing on questions relating to non-discrimination against foreigners in matters of employment, a trust fund for disabled persons, labour legislation, minimum wages, and the right to social security and adequate housing.Responding to supplementary questions by members and to a list of issues to be raised in connection with the examination of the country's initial report, the delegation of Mauritius affirmed that since discrimination was prohibited by the Constitution, any law which was discriminatory would be declared null and void by the Supreme Court. In that connection, a provision had been included in the legal system to place the husband of a Mauritian citizen on the same footing as the wife of a Mauritian citizen. Non-nationals were entitled to legal aid schemes and access to justice.
Regarding "equal pay for equal work", the delegation of Mauritius stated that certain jobs were inappropriate for female workers, such as sugar-cane cutting or quarrying. Women were not compelled to perform field work such as excavation, uprooting of trees, heavy maintenance or carrying of loads in excess of 18 kilograms. In the sugar industry, male and female employees were paid different daily rates of pay with a differential of about 28 per cent in favour of male workers. As the Government was in the process of formulating a new labour code, consideration would be given to introducing corrective measures to ensure the principle of equal remuneration for equal work.
The delegation further said that the right to strike in Mauritius was not automatic, but was invoked as a last resort following the failure of dialogue, conciliation and arbitration. Any conflicts in industrial relations could be referred to the Court of Arbitration.
Concerning the right to social security, the delegation of Mauritius said, the National Pensions Act of 1976 provided for the payment of a non-contributory basic retirement pension on a universal basis to every resident having attained the age of 60. The amount of social aid payable was determined in accordance with the scale of rates in force and was revised annually to take into consideration the increase in the consumer price index. With respect to disabled persons, there was a fund for providing appropriate training to enable them to secure employment.
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As to the extent of the problem of child abuse, the delegation said there had been 5,000 cases of physical, psychological and sexual abuse between 1991 and April 1995. That figure included reported cases of battering by parents and teachers, victims of sexual abuse, incest, and forced labour or mendicity. The Child Protection Act was adopted in November 1994 with a view to providing better protection to children through the imposition of heavier sentences on persons guilty of abuse and removal of a child suffering abuse from dangerous environments.
Regarding the right to adequate housing, the delegation admitted that housing was a very expensive commodity because of the scarcity of land. However, the situation had been a priority issue for successive Governments. In 1990, the housing census had indicated a shortage of some 20,000 housing units as a result of which the Government was prompted to formulate and implement measures to remedy the situation.
The head of the delegation, Michel Dedans, Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the United Nations, Geneva, was accompanied by Patrick Curé, Minister-Counsellor; Satyajit Boolell, Principal State Counsel; and R. Munisamy, Attaché.
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