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11 November, 1999Occupational health and safety legislation is grossly outdated, putting many workers in danger of exposure and contamination to harmful substances.
MAURITIUS: The Construction, Metal and Furniture Employees' Union (CMFEU) has appealed to the IMF and its affiliates to send letters of condemnation to the government of Mauritius in protest at their refusal to pass necessary legislation for improving occupational health and safety. Workers on this island nation are exposed to harmful substances, including asbestos, without any precautions being taken to protect them from exposure and contamination while working.
These substances, banned outright in many other countries, are widely used in Mauritius, and information gathered by employers concerning the health of their workers is treated as confidential, with no requirement to disclose it. In a letter to the government's labour minister, IMF General Secretary Marcello Malentacchi expressed his shock that, in light of current knowledge and despite presentation of several Bills over recent years and considerable assistance from experts at the International Labour Organisation, this legislation has still not been updated.
Malentacchi writes: "The prime responsibility for ensuring each workplace is safe and no harm comes to workers during the course of their employment falls squarely upon the employers. However, it is the government's duty to ensure that employers shoulder their responsibility, by passing appropriate legislation and allocating sufficient resources to enable effective enforcement of this legislation." He also urged the government to include provision for the full participation of trade union representatives when preparing the necessary legislation.
IMF affiliates can also support the CFMEU by writing to:
The Hon. Satya Veyash Faugoo
Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations
Ming Court, Eugene Laurent Street
Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius
with a copy to:
Mr. James Tanner, President
Construction, Metal and Furniture Employees' Union
Arcades Rond Point
Rose Hill, Mauritius
These substances, banned outright in many other countries, are widely used in Mauritius, and information gathered by employers concerning the health of their workers is treated as confidential, with no requirement to disclose it. In a letter to the government's labour minister, IMF General Secretary Marcello Malentacchi expressed his shock that, in light of current knowledge and despite presentation of several Bills over recent years and considerable assistance from experts at the International Labour Organisation, this legislation has still not been updated.
Malentacchi writes: "The prime responsibility for ensuring each workplace is safe and no harm comes to workers during the course of their employment falls squarely upon the employers. However, it is the government's duty to ensure that employers shoulder their responsibility, by passing appropriate legislation and allocating sufficient resources to enable effective enforcement of this legislation." He also urged the government to include provision for the full participation of trade union representatives when preparing the necessary legislation.
IMF affiliates can also support the CFMEU by writing to:
The Hon. Satya Veyash Faugoo
Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations
Ming Court, Eugene Laurent Street
Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius
with a copy to:
Mr. James Tanner, President
Construction, Metal and Furniture Employees' Union
Arcades Rond Point
Rose Hill, Mauritius