Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Johanne Prosper
Published on 2024-02-29 13:00:54
Employees retired from Mauritius Post Ltd (MPL) are threatening to take to the streets of Port-Louis after March 12. Numbering 400, they feel aggrieved since they agreed to be transferred from the government postal services to Mauritius Post Ltd.
Although they were satisfied with the seven increments they were granted for their transfer in the past, they now see that adjustments to their pensions are being made slowly. Since joining the MPL, the Pay Research Bureau has released five reports, while the MPL has issued four salary reports; this puts MPL pensioners in a less favorable position than before, says Nundkishor Fakun, president of the Postal Services Pensioners Association.
Nundkishor Fakun mentioned that MPL released salary reports in 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2023. There were no abnormalities in the implementation of the 2008, 2013, and 2018 reports. However, this was not the case for the 2023 report. The report was released last July, and the Joint Negotiating Panel signed an agreement for its implementation last September. Their pensions were adjusted in November 2023.
Conversely, about a hundred pensioners did not receive any adjustments. Juniors received larger increases than their seniors. Additionally, most pensioners received a Meagre Increase of Rs 300. The Deputy Head of Operations is not satisfied with his increases, according to the association president. He believes that the MPL Board approved a salary report that has caused frustration among pensioners. He has written to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Finance on December 14 to demand an advance of Rs 1500 on their pension starting from January 2023. The letter has not received a response so far.
A general assembly was held last January, and association members voted for Strong Legal Action to seek redress.
For Deepak Benydin, president of the Federation of Parastatal Bodies, this situation must stop. “Enough is enough,” he adds. For him, it is clear that they have been “duped with 7 increments.” He recalls that Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth hinted that special attention should be given to the elders who have built Mauritius.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
