Reza Uteem, Minister of Labor: “Mental health and labor reforms at the center of concerns”

On the occasion of International Labor Day, the Minister of Labor and Industrial Relations, Reza Uteem, details the priorities of his ministry: labor law reforms, relaunch of social dialogue, mental health in companies and management of the labor shortage. He wants to put mental health and labor reforms at the center of concerns. In the interview that follows, he also returns to the political tensions at the MMM and the economic challenges to come.

You organized a workshop this week. Can you explain to us the context in which it takes place? This workshop is part of a week of activities organized by my ministry on the occasion of International Labor Day on May 1st. The objective was not only symbolic, but to create a real space for reflection and consultation around the major issues in the world of work. We began this process with a mission to Rodrigues, where we held a series of working sessions with the commissioner, the heads of departments as well as the members of the commission responsible for Labor and Employment. We also met with the Rodrigues unions. This step was essential to better understand the specific realities of the labor market on the island. The idea is to strengthen cooperation between Mauritius and Rodrigues in order to improve the conditions of Rodrigues workers and to facilitate the management of conflicts with Mauritian employers.

What were the other stages of this week of activities? We continued with a Job Fair in Flic-en-Flac, which was a great success, with strong participation from companies and job seekers. Then, we held two major meetings: the first with representatives of the country's main unions, and the second with the employers' organizations. The objective was clear: to listen, discuss and identify the necessary improvements in the services offered by the ministry. The discussions were frank and constructive. Several concerns were raised, including the need to reduce case processing times and improve the efficiency of related institutions, such as the Conciliation and Mediation Commission.

You also mentioned the relaunch of social dialogue...Indeed. At these meetings, I announced that we have obtained Cabinet approval to reconstitute the National Tripartite Council. This body will be central to discussing future reforms. After the Labor and Employment Conference held last year, we analyzed all of the recommendations and identified a dozen priority themes. These proposals will be submitted to the National Tripartite Council for deliberations, before being presented to the