Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Gaël Rangain
Published on 2024-03-17 11:00:07
After the Basic Retirement Pension ranging from Rs 13,500 to Rs 28,710, the announcement by Minister Callichurn of the introduction of an Occupational Wage, leading to an eagerly anticipated salary revision.
The political campaign on the ground started at full speed the day after Eid-ul-Fitr in preparation for gatherings for Labor Day, described as Game Changers on the sidelines of the legislative elections.
Speculation surrounds the possible dissolution of the National Assembly, either before the return on Tuesday, March 27, or after the presentation of the fifth and final budget by Minister Padayachy.
The recent announcements, including the Basic Retirement Pension set at Rs 13,500 for those aged 60 and above starting next month, have fueled speculations about the possible dissolution of the National Assembly, paving the way for the upcoming general elections. The pension aspect with the Rs 13,500 figure, announced since October 1, 2019, has become a reality and was addressed twice in the past week, first in the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on March 12 and then by the Minister of Social Security, Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, who explained the details of the new social benefits scale coming into effect next month. The implementation of this social measure, initially planned by the Minister of Finance, Renganaden Padayachy, as part of the fifth and final budget of the current legislature, leaves the door open for a possible Closing of Parliamentary Business before the next Budget Speech.
Authoritative sources within Lakwizinn of the Prime Minister’s Office make it clear that there is still unfinished government business to complete before it can be deemed complete. The Minister of Labor and Industrial Relations, Soodesh Callichurn, had promised a dual salary adjustment exercise by the end of last year, with recommendations expected this month. It is said that this potential salary revision would affect not only the private sector but could also anticipate the next Pay Research Bureau report in favor of civil servants and employees of parastatal bodies.
However, what is certain in the political arena is that the electoral mobilization campaign will take precedence the day after Eid-ul-Fitr, with the May 1 deadline looming for all political blocks aiming to take over the Government House through elections.
This meeting takes the form of a game changer in the political arena. Especially since, in the 15 subsequent days, the Prime Minister and Leader of the House, Pravind Jugnauth, will propose the dates, either those of Nomination Day and Polling Day for the by-election provoked by the resignation of Vikram Hurdoyal as Member of Parliament for Montagne-Blanche/Grande-Rivière-Sud-Est (N°10).
If the Prime Minister chooses to follow the path of the by-election in N°10, the dates in the Writ for Bye-Election in Montagne-Blanche/Grande-Rivière-Sud-Est, particularly Polling Day, become pointers for the timetable of the upcoming general elections. According to the Representation of the People Act, the deadline for the publication of the Writ for the by-election expires around May 13.
“Ninport kan”
“As has been the case previously, the Prime Minister may very well use his constitutional prerogatives to officially publish the dates of Nomination Day and Polling Day and then decide literally on the eve to cancel the by-election to call the country back to vote. Thus, we will be better able to understand Lakwizinn’s general election agenda,” say knowledgeable political observers.
This scenario favors the option of dissolving the National Assembly after a possible presentation of the Grand Argentier’s final budget for the current legislature. Thus, the compilation of the new voter lists by the Electoral Commission based on the new constituency boundaries, following the recommendations of the Electoral Boundaries Commission, will have reached an advanced stage and their publication by August 15.
One of the concerns expressed in this regard is that the effect of the announced measures, including the revision of the social benefits scale, with the ministry’s budget exceeding Rs 50 billion, could be déjà vu when casting votes for the legislative elections and may not generate the expected vote potential.
This leads some circles not to rule out the possibility that the timetable for the upcoming elections could overlook the next parliamentary session and budget. They rely on the offhand remark of a Minister and die-hard of the MSM, whose balance sheet of the last two terms contains gold. “Bizin pare. Zafer-la kapav vini ninport kan,” he hinted to his troops in recent days.
This ninport kan could be as soon as before Tuesday, March 27, the date set for the resumption of the National Assembly’s work, thereby eliminating any Private Notice Question (PNQ) intentions from the Leader of the Opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval, to the Prime Minister, or interpellations during Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT). “The government has no shortage of issues and scandals to corner it. For example, the Silver Bank Saga has as many shady areas that need to be clarified. There are still other matters to be disclosed,” it is understood in the Leader of the Opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval’s circle.
On the other hand, the resumption of the National Assembly’s work at the beginning of the year is marked by the publication of the Auditor General’s report on the government’s performance in managing public funds for the previous financial year. “Many political burdens for ministers to bear, with the parliamentary opposition doing its part,” it is added.
However, this political combination, with the closure of Parliament in anticipation of legislative elections, is dependent on a strategic approach that could be of interest to all employees. Thus, Minister Callichurn has already scheduled a meeting with private sector employees for this month of March.
Strategic Interest
Firstly, the issue of salary relativities will be reviewed with the introduction of the Minimum Wage. Unionists of all stripes are pressuring for a reorganization of the current salaries with the implementation of the National Minimum Wage. Secondly, there will be a proposal for an Occupational Wage, meaning uniform salaries in different professional activities that should be adopted regardless of the economic sectors.
“This issue of Occupational Wage, where the salary for a driver should be the same regardless of the economic sector in which he is engaged, is proving to be quite complicated. We believe that the Ministry of Labour, in collaboration with the National Wage Council, is engaged in consultations that have reached an advanced stage. Privileged unionists are in the know. But what we know is that the Minister had promised to present these recommendations in March this year. We are waiting to see,” it is understood in concerned union circles.
With two weeks left in March, the question arises as to how Minister Callichurn’s announcement will take shape, which cannot afford to miss its entry on the scene before the upcoming general elections, even if the Cabinet will ultimately have the final say on this matter.
In addition, civil servants and employees of parastatal bodies will not be forgotten with the possibility of a salary revision upstream of the next publication of the Pay Research Bureau’s salary recommendations. These are elements that could form the basis of this fifth budget of the current term or could be the subject of announcements before the deadline for the dissolution of the National Assembly and the campaign for the upcoming general elections.
In the meantime, Lakwizinn of the PMO awaits the next Intelligence Report from the National Security Service regarding the repercussions of the upward revision of the Basic Retirement Pension benefiting one in four voters…
General staff multiply contacts and initiatives
The MSM is reviewing its cards for Nos 4 and 17 with major cases for the planned investitures.
The PMSD is strong on the waterfront on March 12 to convince of its adherence to the Alliance PTr-MMM-PMSD.
Despite the temporary halt in ground mobilization until the second week of April, political staff, whether in the government or in the opposition, are by no means in idle mode. Contacts and initiatives are multiplying to build the list of electables for the upcoming elections or to devise campaign strategies not only on the ground in the 20 constituencies of Mauritius but also on social networks. Leaders like Pravind Jugnauth and Navin Ramgoolam do not miss an opportunity to make their presence felt virtually, especially on TikTok for the MSM leader.
It is claimed that within Lakwizinn of the Prime Minister’s Office, the decision has been taken to relegate the Sun Trust’s headquarters on Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis, in favor of Angus Road, Vacoas, or even Wolmar, to establish the electoral network. The Sun Trust is seen as leak-prone. Top Chefs say the process of replacing lame ducks with fresh blood is well underway.
With political waves shaking the East since the end of last year, especially at the Flacq district council level and with the revocation and subsequent resignation of the National Assembly by Vikram Hurdoyal, the MSM now relies on the presence of Avineshwur Dayal, the son of the late Raj Dayal, to stabilize the situation. Hurdoyal’s successor is banking on his father’s reputation to reassure the MSM die-hards in Flacq/Bon-Accueil (N°9) and Montane-Blache/Grade-Rivière-Sud-Est (N°10). He maintains almost a permanent presence in the field.
On the other hand, in two urban constituencies, namely Port Louis Nord/Montagne-Longue (N°4) and Curepipe/Midlands (N°17), the MSM, which had seemingly finalized the candidacies, will have to rethink its calculations. In N°4, two of the potential candidates are currently facing health issues. It is a fact that the party president and minister of public utilities, Joe Lesjongard, has been less politically visible in the past two weeks.
The political entourage of Joe Lesjongard suggests that the advice of treating physicians will determine his presence on the majority candidates’ list on Nomination Day. Thus, with Minister Maneesh Gobin’s politically delicate position following the Black Label and Stag Party Saga, the MSM runs the risk of going into the next elections without its president and potentially its secretary-general.
For the Curepipe/Midlands (N°17) constituency, the Prime Minister and MSM leader had already finalized an agreement with a potential candidate before his departure for Agalega. But a force majeure event beyond the control of the parties concerned means that the MSM will have to restart the head-hunting exercise in this urban constituency to complement the strategy from N°4 to N°14.
On the other hand, within the Alliance PTr-MMM-PMSD ranks, the PMSD’s strong presence at the quadricolore hoisting ceremony at the Port Louis Esplanade, next to the statue of the late Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam on March 12, is seen as a sign aiming to refute any political contacts between the PMSD and the Government House. “Lakwizinn is trying everything in order to undermine the trust between the alliance partners. But the presence of PMSD supporters in Port Louis on March 12 is an admission of failure of Pravind Jugnauth’s approach, seeking to support the return of the blues to the Government House. With the resumption of parliamentary work, Xavier-Luc Duval, with his PNQs, will show which political camp he is in,” it is suggested at this point, with the distribution of tickets between partners and opposition alliance candidates already engaged.
Moreover, the leader of the Labour Party, Navin Ramgoolam, reaffirms to whoever wants to hear that the outgoing opposition parliamentarians will be maintained in their respective constituencies…
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
