This week in Mauritius the first Tiny Forest in the region was launched thanks to Alteo, new figures from Statistics Mauritius reveal data on unemployment and the country's budget deficit and casino employees demand better working conditions.
Launch of the first Tiny Forest in the East
Alteo has recently launched the first Tiny Forest in the East of the island, in collaboration with the NGO Tiny Forest of Mauritius. This project aims to enhance urban living conditions while actively preserving the environment. Covering an area of 176 square meters and featuring 529 plants of 58 different species, this initiative began last week. Alteo has also engaged the local community from the outset, organizing meetings with various stakeholders to ensure the project's long-term success. A Tiny Forest is a small, dense forest planted on a compact area, promoting biodiversity and environmental conservation in urban settings.
Latest figures from Statistics Mauritius: the deficit will near Rs 200 billion
In the first quarter of the year, Mauritius's trade deficit worsened significantly, reaching Rs 46.4 billion, an increase of 15.9% compared to the same period last year, when it stood at Rs 40 billion. According to estimates from Statistics Mauritius, total exports for 2024 are expected to be around Rs 104 billion, maintaining a level similar to that of 2023. However, imports are projected to increase by 5.6%, reaching Rs 300 billion. These figures suggest an annual trade deficit nearing Rs 200 billion, estimated at Rs 196 billion, an 8.9% increase from the previous year's Rs 180 billion. In the first quarter, total exports amounted to Rs 23.3 billion, a decrease of 8.4%, while imports reached Rs 69.8 billion, an increase of 6.4%. This trend is mainly due to significant changes in key sectors such as manufactured goods and petroleum products. European countries emerged as the main buyers of Mauritian products, accounting for about 44.6% of exports, with Madagascar, South Africa, and France being the top destinations.
Unemployment drops to 6.3% for the year 2023
The unemployment rate in Mauritius continued to decline in 2023, reaching 6.3% compared to 7.7% in 2022 and 9.1% in 2021, according to a recent report from Statistics Mauritius. The number of people in the labor force also increased, rising from 562,800 in 2022 to 592,800 in 2023, an increase of 30,000. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed individuals decreased from 43,200 in 2022 to 37,600 in 2023. This downward trend in unemployment was also reflected in a decrease in the youth unemployment rate, which fell from 25.1% to 18.2%. The data also indicate a predominance of women among the unemployed, despite an increase in employment among young women. Approximately 78.2% of employed individuals are salaried, with a median monthly income of around Rs 22,000. The highest monthly incomes were recorded among senior executives, professionals, and technicians, while the lowest incomes were observed among workers in elementary occupations.
Casino employees in Mauritius protest in Curepipe
A protest took place this Wednesday in front of the Casino of Mauritius in Curepipe. Members of the Casino Employees Union (CEB) are demanding more consideration from their employer. They are calling for remuneration in accordance with the Worker's Rights Act, particularly for hours worked on Sundays, and are requesting a substantial salary increase of 24%. Ashok Subron, the employees' union representative, announced a general assembly on June 6th, where crucial decisions will be made regarding future actions. Despite assertions from a casino official highlighting the lack of official complaints to the Ministry of Labour, the employees' demands remain firm.
