Mauritius

A regional qualification framework, the SADCQF aims to enhance regional integration in the fields of education and training by promoting regional standards and recognition of qualifications. The SADCQF is a regional mechanism for comparability and recognition of full qualifications, credit transfer, creation of regional standards and facilitation of quality assurance (QA). It consists of a set of agreed principles, practices, procedures and standardised terminology intended to meet the five purposes of the SADCQF:

In 2020, the Southern African Development Community adopted the Guidelines on the Portability of Social Security Benefits, through a tripartite process to help SADC countries adopt policies and regulations so that workers in SADC countries can accumulate and access social security benefits across different countries in the region.

The Republic of Mauritius (ROM) is highly vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change and climate variability. According to the World Risk Report 2016, Mauritius is ranked 13th among countries with highest disaster risk and ranked 7th as most exposed to natural hazards (UNU& EHS, 20 16). Mauritius has developed a Climate Change Action Plan for addressing these threats. One important national consequence of exposure to disaster and environmental degradation is the impact on the migration of people.

A bilateral cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Seychelles and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius has been signed considering the mutual interest and benefits to be accrued to both parties in promoting closer cooperation in education and human resources development.

Main aims

• Labour migration and mobility 

Bilateral agreements constitute an effective way to regulate migration flows and to foster development, both in the countries of origin and destination.

Mauritius has the opportunity to capitalise on migration as a tool for social development and economic growth. 

Mauritius became a member of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2006 with a view to getting the assistance of the organization for Labour Migration. Consequently, as from 2007, IOM has been assisting the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training (MLIRET) in facilitating the placement of Mauritian jobseekers in Canada. 

The European Union-funded “Migration, Environment and Climate Change: Evidence for Policy” (MECLEP) project was implemented between January 2014 and March 2017.

In 2015 Mauritius set up a diaspora scheme. It has been set up with the aim to attract members of the Mauritian Diaspora back to Mauritius to participate in the economic development of the country. It is open to any diaspora member who is willing to return and participate to the development of the country. It provides a package of incentives and benefits, such as income tax exemption, import allowances, a waiver on custom duties, exemption of payment for registration fees for residential property and a status.

A sensitisation campaign was carried out to inform the general population of Mauritius about the consequences of climate change on human mobility and employment opportunities in the environmental sector. 

While migration to and within the Indian Ocean region has been increasing in recent years, available information and data on migration patterns are lacking. A better understanding of current migration trends is essential for policymakers to formulate intervention harnessing migration’s beneficial effects and mitigating its negative consequences. Statistical data on international migration flows and characteristics of population stocks with migration background represent the backbone of the Migration Profile whose main objective is to support an evidence-based policy.