Rashid Imrith won many trade union battles since 1977, but he could not win in the face of illness. The combative trade unionist and former President of the Federation of Public Sector Unions passed away on Wednesday 20 July. He had been fighting his illness since March 2021. His relatives tell us that the specialists had estimated his life expectancy at 3 months.
After 45 years of fighting for the welfare of civil servants and 1 year and 4 months against the disease, Rashid Imrith has laid down his arms for good. At his home in Phoenix, a horde of union representatives came to pay their last respects. He will be remembered as a defender of civil servants, but above all, as a fine negotiator for better conditions for government employees at each release of the Pay Research Bureau (PRB) report and his participation in fundamental reforms in the civil service.
His brothers in arms call him a ‘Justicier’, a monument in trade unionism in Mauritius who fought until the end, even forgetting his illness. Stephan Toussaint, Minister of Youth and Sports, also came to say goodbye. Rashid Imrith’s funeral took place on the same Wednesday afternoon.
Prime Minister Jugnauth expressed his condolences on facebook : « C’est avec boucoup tristesse ki mo ine apprane décès camarade Rashid Imrith. Rashid fine parmi bane plis grand defenseur classe travayer de nou le temps. Ene syndicaliste courageux et tres respecté dan la fonction publique et aussi dans le monde du travail en général. Mo présente mo sincere condoléance a so famille ek a so bane collaborateur. »
