Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137) - Mauritius (Ratification: 2003)

Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention. Permanent or regular employment of dockworkers. The Committee notes the indication that dockworkers are employed under the permanent pensionable regime (PPE) and are subject to the common pension system under the Social Contributions and Social Benefits Act, 2021. The Government states that the dockworkers remain entitled to lump sum payments under the National Savings Fund Act, 1995, in case of death or retirement, provided they have contributed to the Fund. According to the statistics provided in the Government’s report, the register included 1,278 dockworkers in 2022, excluding five contractual employees and ten trainees, employed under fixed term contracts. The Committee notes that the total number of registered dockworkers has remained stable over the past five years, however with a drop of 10 per cent in numbers since 2019. It further notes the Government’s indication that the post COVID-19 economic situation has affected maritime freight rates and will oblige the port handling company (Cargo Handling Corporation Ltd.) to reorganize its operations and procedures. In light of the above, while inviting the Government to continue to provide statistical information on the register of dockworkers, the Committee requests it to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to prevent or palliate the adverse effects on dockworkers of the reorganization of the operation of the ports to adapt to changes in the sector, and the reorganization which will be implemented in response to changes in maritime freight rates, as indicated in the report.

Article 5. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes the indication that a new collective agreement for the sector is under negotiation, to replace the agreement signed in 2016. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the cooperation between the social partners related to improving the efficacity of work in the ports in the context of the reorganization of the operation of the ports to address changes in the sector, and to report on any progress regarding the conclusion of a new collective agreement.

Application in practice.The Committee requests the Government to provide general information on the manner in which the Convention is applied, including, for instance, copies of collective agreements or any regulations in force on dock work and the employment and working conditions of dockworkers, extracts from reports by the authorities responsible for the application of measures giving effect to the Convention, and information on numbers of dockworkers on the registers maintained and the variations in such numbers.