The leaders of the Confederation of Public and Private Sector Workers (CTSP) held a press conference on Friday evening following the presentation of the 2021-2022 budget.
CTSP leaders, Reaz Chutoo and Jane Ragoo said the 2021-2022 budget did not give importance to price controls. CTSP General Secretary, Jane Ragoo stressed that this budget should not lead to a ‘brain drain’ when foreign students are allowed to work in Mauritius. CTSP President, Reaz Chuttoo said he appreciated the government’s decision to implement the Pay Research Bureau (PRB) report this year. The President of the Federation of Civil Service and Other Unions, Narendranath Gopee points out that the Finance Minister has not said how he will fund the budget measures.
The General Secretary of the Confederation of Private Sector Workers (CTSP), Jane Ragoo says the focus has been on the Economic Development Board (EDB) to implement some of the projects. She hopes that the projects will be carried out in a transparent manner. She also stressed that civil society members should be present in EDB meetings.
Radhakrishna Sadien, president of the State and Other Employees Federation (SOEF), predicts an impoverishment of the middle class. Especially with the introduction of a Rs 2 per litre tax on fuel. “The Finance Minister has not said anything about controlling the prices of commodities while the population is suffering from high prices in supermarkets,” he added. However, he is pleased that the government has indicated its intention to implement the PRB report this year.
Hanif Perrun, president of the Mauritius Labour Congress (MLC), said that the middle class feels excluded from this budget. According to him, instead of investing Rs 4.5 billion to extend the Metro Express to Rose-Hill, this money could have been invested in the purchase of vaccines. We all know that public health is free for Mauritians, but they are charging for health services in Mauritius through this tax. He also regrets that there are no measures to combat fraud and corruption.
