Union leaders and workers in export processing zones in Mauritius took part in the joint IndustriALL/FES workshop recently to discuss ways to organize the garment industry supply chain. As per IndustriALL Global Union, representing 50 million workers in 140 countries, the garment workers have the lowest minimum wage in Mauritius, and they have long working hours with an obligatory overtime of 10 hours per week. Participants also highlighted the difference in treatment between local and migrant workers, which is illegal under national legislation.
Mauritius which is producing garments for South Africa, US as well as some European retailers has majority of the factories located in the country’s EPZs where trade unions do not have access to the factories. Hence less than 5% of the 60,000 workers are unionized.
IndustriALL and its affiliates stressed to raise the minimum wage in the garment sector and requested that a mechanism be put in place to enforce freedom of association and collective bargaining in the country. They also called for the harmonizing of working conditions between local and migrant workers.
Mauritius was among the pioneers in the garment industry; long before export processing zones were established to attract investors from around the world. It has adapted to the changing dynamism of the garment sector through investing in the latest textile and garment technology, establishing fashion and design schools, and maintaining cheap labour through migrant workers.
