MauritiusCountry Report
R. K Heerah
Assistant Director, Safety & Health
Ministry of Public Service, Administrative & Institutional Reforms
2023

• Basic Information• Organization Chart• Country Overview

Agenda
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

• Issues and Challenges• Good Practices
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2Basic Information
Name: Mr. Rajnish Kumar HEERAH
Designation: Assistant Director, Safety and HealthCountry: MAURITIUS

Organization: Ministry of Public Service, Administrative& Institutional Reforms
Department: Occupational Safety and Health Unit

Work Experience: 24 years
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Chart
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

Occupational
Safety &Health Unit
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Country Profile
All about Mauritius

Presentation title

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Mauritius (Paradise on Earth)
The Republic of Mauritius comprises a group ofislands in the Southwest Indian Ocean, consisting of
the main island Mauritius and the outer islands ofRodrigues, Agalega, Saint Brandon, Tromelin andthe Chagos Archipelago.

Total Land Area: 2040 km2
Large Exclusive Economic Zone: Approximately 2.3
million km²

Prime Minister: The Hon Pravind Kumar JUGNAUTH
Presentation title

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Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968 as a
Parliamentary Republic and has remained a stable democracywith regular free elections and a positive human rights record.

National Flag: Red, Blue, Yellow & Green
Capital: Port Louis
Population: Estimated at 1.3 million

Ethnicity: mostly people of Indian, African, Chinese andEuropean descent.

CountryProfile
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

Language: Most Mauritians are multilingual and speak andwrite in English, French, Creole and several Asian languages.
Climate: Tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm,dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer(November to May)
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Mauritius - Geographic Location

Japan

Mauritius

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Japan is about 185 times bigger than Mauritius.

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‘’Mauritius was made first, andthen Heaven; and Heaven was
copied after Mauritius”- Mark Twain
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Occurrence status ofoccupational accidents anddiseases• Mauritius enacted the Occupational Safety and
Health Act 2005 in September 2005. However,this piece of legislation was proclaimed on 01
September 2007.
• Under Section 85, every employer shall notifythe Director, Occupational Safety and Health [ofthe Ministry of Labour, Human Resource
Development and Training] by the quickest
practicable means, any accident arising out or inconnection with work where an employee diesor suffers any of the injuries or conditions
specified in the Eleventh Schedule.
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

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Statistics - Yearly
Cases of Occupational Accidents
Year

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

9

17

7

7

7

6

7

11

13

10

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Notifiable non-fatal accidents

231

234

215

180

188

214

234

218

197

177

172

Non-notifiable accidents

123

117

132

125

129

142

174

200

157

141

152

363

368

354

312

324

362

415

429

367

328

331

Notifiable fatal accidents

TOTAL

Source: Ministry of Labour, Human Resource Development & Training
https://labour.govmu.org/Pages/stats-osh.aspx

Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

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Statistics – Sectorwise

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Data Collection Methods
for Statistic• The Ministry of Labour, Human Resource
Development and Training is the enforcing
Authority in Mauritius and is responsible for thecollection of data in relation to occupationalaccidents and diseases.

• Within 7 days, the employer shall send a report
thereof to the Director, Occupational Safety andHealth in the form set out in the ThirteenthSchedule.

Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

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Thirteenth Schedule

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Thirteenth Schedule

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Safety and Health related
Laws and Regulations• The Government of Mauritius recognizes thatworkers are its most valuable asset, and thatsafety and health is one of their fundamentalrights.
• The Ministry of Labour, Human Resource
Development and Training is the Focal point forsafety and health.
• Several Laws and Regulations were made topromote decent work and protect the safety andhealth of any employee against any risk at hisworkplace.
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

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Safety & Health related laws and regulations
Act• OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT 2005 [Act No. 28of 2005] as subsequently amendedRegulations• Occupational Safety and Health (Foundries and ConstructionWorks) Regulations 2019 [GN No. 167 of 2019]• Occupational Safety and Health (Control of Asbestos at Work)
Regulations 2014 [GN No. 216 of 2014]• Occupational Safety and Health (Transportation of Employees)
Regulations 2014 [GN No. 210 of 2014]

Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

• Occupational Safety and Health (Safety of Scaffolds)
Regulations 2013 - updated as at 2015 (latest) [GN No. 16 of2014]
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Safety & Health related laws and regulations
Regulations (continue..)• Occupational Safety and Health (Ship Construction andShip Repairs) Regulations 2013 [GN No. 254 of 2013]• Occupational Safety and Health (Work at Height)
Regulations 2013 [GN No. 190 of 2013]• Occupational Safety and Health (Personal ProtectiveEquipment) Regulations 2012 [GN No. 146 of 2012]• Occupational Safety and Health (Safety of Lifts at Work)
Regulations 2012 [GN No. 108 of 2012]• Occupational Safety and Health (Noise at Work)
Regulations 2012 [GN No. 107 of 2012]• Occupational Safety and Health (Employees' Lodging
Accommodation) Regulations 2011 – updated as at 2015(latest) [GN No. 27 of 2011]
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Safety & Health related laws and regulations
Regulations (continue..)• Occupational Safety and Health (Electricity at Work)
Regulations 2009 [GN No. 47 of 2009]• Occupational Safety and Health (Fees and Registration)
Regulations 2007 – updated as at 2014 (latest) [GN No.
123 of 2007]• Occupational Safety and Health (Transitional Provisions)
Regulations 2007 – updated as at 2009 (latest) [GN No.
122 of 2007]• Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare (WoodworkingMachines) Regulations 1989 – updated as at 2012 (latest)[GN No. 66 of 1989]• Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare (First-aid)
Regulations 1989 – updated as at 2005 (latest) [GN 65 of1989]
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

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19Labor Inspection System• The Ministry of Labour, Human Resource
Development and Training is the Focal point forsafety and health.
• Enforcement Authority• Under Section 24 of OSHA 2005, powers havebeen vested upon the Permanent Secretary,
MinistryofLabour,
HumanResource
Development and Training to carry out
inspection, examination and investigation toensure that the provisions of the Act are being
complied with.
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

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Occupational Safety and Health Division

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Workers’ Accident
Insurance Compensation• Workmen’s Compensation Act.
Compensation, in respect of occupational
accidents, to manual workers and non-manual
workers whose salary does not exceed Rs 72000
annually.

• Compensation is paid to:(i) a public officer in the event of permanent
incapacity due to personal injury sustained out ofand in the course of duties; andMauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023(ii) the officer’s dependents where there are fatal
injuries or death by accident arising out of and in
the course of duties.
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Safety of Equipment andFacilities• Part V – Safety (Machinery)[Section 46 – Section 63]• Section 47 – Dangerous Machinery• Section 51 – Cranes and other lifting Machines• Section 53 – Hoists and Lifts• Section 55 – Steam Boilers• Section 59 – Air Receivers• Section 60 – Refrigeration Plants• Section 61 – Special Provisions
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Training/EducationPrograms• OSH Act 2005.
Qualifications specified in the First Schedule topractice as a Safety and Health Officer• Minimum qualification – Diploma in Occupational
Safety and Health & offered by Local Universities.
• Training on OSH is mandatory under the Law.
• Section 6(2) – Special duties of Employers[adequate safety and health information,
instruction and training – recruitment/exposure to
new risk/ new plant or change related to anyprocess]
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Activities of OSH
organizations other thanGovernment• IOSHM (Institution of Occupational Safety &Health Management)• NGO and non-profit organisation promoting
occupational safety and health

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• Organisations approved by theQualification Authority – First AidMauritius
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OSHMS and Risk
Assessments• OSHMS.
It is not a mandatory requirement under the law.
However, under Para. 172 of the Government
Programme 2020 – 2024, OSHMS to be
developed across the Civil Service.
• ILO-OSH:2001 Guidelines[On a pilot basis in 3 organisations]• ISO 45001:2018[phase implementation]
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OSHMS and Risk
Assessments• RISK ASSESSMENT
Section 10 & 11 of OSHA 2005
(i)

Employers are required to carry out a suitable
and sufficient assessment of the risk within 30
days of the start of an operation .

(ii) Review not later than 2 years or earlier.
(iii) Recording of findings* Amendments 2022

Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

Establishment of Safety and Health Collaboration
Committee to discuss risk assessment
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Campaign/Event/National
Convention and Exhibition• World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
It is an annual feature and celebrated on 28 April.
Distribution of ILO posters by the Ministry ofLabour, Human Resource Development &Training• Safety and health Week
Award for best initiatives in the Civil Service• Tripartite Forum organised by the Ministry ofLabour, Human Resource Development andTraining.
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Reference
Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

https://labour.govmu.org/Documents/Legislations/osha%202005/Act/3.
OCCUPATIONAL%20SAFETY%20AND%20HEALTH%20ACT,%20No%20
28%20of%202005.pdf

https://labour.govmu.org/Documents/customer%20charter%20labour%
20division.pdf
https://labour.govmu.org/Pages/stats-osh.aspx

https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/MUS
https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/MUS2023

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Major initiatives• Review of the OSHA 2005 – The Occupational
Safety and Health (Amendment) Act 2022
• Restructuring of the Occupational Safety andHealth Division into the National Safety and
Health Department• Enhancement of Work Environment Program inthe Civil Service [budget allocation to cater forsafety and health project under the scheme]

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Issues & Challenges
Poor level of compliancewith OSH Laws andRegulations
Lack of Commitment (withinthe Civil Service) &Manpower

Mauritius Country Report – R. K Heerah 2023

Lack of competencies in theimplementation of theOSHMS

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Good Practices• Enhancement of Work Environment Program[yearly some 160 projects are funded to a tuneof Rs 4.5 Million]• Setting up of Central Monitoring Committee on
OSH under the Ministry of Public Service,
Administrative and Institutional Reforms

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Thank you
Mr. Rajnish Kumar HEERAHAssistant Director, Safety and Health
Ministry of Public Service, Administrative& Institutional Reforms
MAURITIUS2023

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