Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - Report No 368, June 2013

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

1. 55. The Committee last examined this case, which concerns allegations of violations of freedom of association in the setting up, composition and appointment of members of the National Wages/Pay Council (NPC) at its March 2012 meeting. On that occasion, the Committee once again requested the Government to provide information on the establishment, composition, appointment and functioning of the commission dealing with the question of annual pay within the National Tripartite Forum. The Committee also requested the Government to ensure that consultations take place within this framework with the Trade Union Common Platform (TUCP) [see 363rd Report, paras 184–186].
2. 56. In its communication dated 24 July 2012, the Government indicates that: (i) discussions on the determination of the quantum of salary compensation for the year 2012 were, at the request of the trade union representatives, held at the level of a tripartite committee (TC) chaired by the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development instead of the subcommittee on salary compensation under the aegis of the National Tripartite Forum. The TC was composed of seven representatives from each of the tripartite constituents; (ii) at the first meeting of the TC, after allowing representatives from each side to express their views on the issue, the Chairperson proposed that a technical tripartite committee (TTC) be set up and co-chaired by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment to examine in detail the proposals from each side and come up with specific recommendations on the quantum of salary compensation for 2012; (iii) the TTC was in principle also constituted on the basis of an equal representation of seven members from each of the tripartite constituents although some members failed to attend the meetings scheduled. It met on two occasions, and after careful consideration of the proposals from employers’ and workers’ representatives, the co-Chairpersons submitted their recommendations to the Chairperson of the TC on 14 September 2011. The recommendations made were finally approved at the level of the TC and by the Government in a spirit of consensus and compromise; and (iv) thus, despite the inflation rate of 6.6 per cent for 2011, the Government made a special effort to grant a compensation of up to 11 per cent to those workers at the lowest rungs of the ladder earning up to 5,000 Mauritian rupees (MUR) per month while for those earning above MUR5,000 up to MUR7,000 per month, a full compensation of 6.6 per cent was granted. A flat compensation of MUR460 was given to those earning above MUR7,000 up to MUR30,000 monthly. As for those whose salary exceeded MUR30,000 per month, no compensation was proposed in view of the difficult economic situation and in a gesture of solidarity towards those in hardship.
3. 57. The Committee notes this information with interest.