Some 200 000 Work Access Permits delivered

The spokesperson of the National Communication
Committee on Covid-19, Dr Zouberr Joomaye, shared those information, this evening,
during a press brie​fing at the Treasury Building in Port Louis, in presence of
the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr. Renganaden
Padayachy, and the Minister of Labour, Human Resource
Development and Training, Mr Soodesh Callichurn.

Dr Joomaye provided
an overview of the Covid-19 situation in Mauritius and stressed that for the 18
straight days, no new Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the country. The
number of Covid-19 tests carried out so far has reached 82 994, comprising 24
080 PCR tests and 58 706 Rapid Antigen Tests. He further stated that the
screening of frontliners is almost complete and that the next step will involve
the screening of people working in supermarkets, petrol stations as well as
public officers who worked during the confinement period. He also reiterated Government’s
full support to all frontliners, particularly healthcare personnel, in performing
their duties to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

As at date, the
number of positive cases stand at 332 with 322 successfully treated patients
and ten Covid-19 related deaths. Moreover, he pointed out that 262 persons
comprising of 42 healthcare personnel are currently in the five quarantine
centres across the island.

Minister Padayachy,
for his part, shed light on the two schemes, namely the Wage Assistance Scheme
and the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme, set up by Government to help employees
of the private sector and those self-employed in the informal sector with a financial
support during the confinement period.

He stressed that only large profitable enterprises will be called upon to refund the sum disbursed by Government during the lockdown period. He reassured that for the month of May provisions have already been made for the allocation of a partial or full payment of the financial aid to the beneficiaries. Dr Padayachy also stated that Government is working on the economic strategy which will be incorporated in Budget 2020-2021 to alleviate the population from the negative impact of Covid-19 and prepare for the economic recovery in line with Government’s vision of to sustain investment and the economy as a whole.

On the other hand, Minister Callichurn
reassured the population that the amendments proposed to the two labour laws
under the COVID-19
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will help in responding to this unprecedented
situation resulting from the Cov​id-19 pandemic. He explained that the
amendments will in no situation infringe the rights of workers and that same
have been taken to preserve jobs and enable enterprises to sustain during this
covid-19 crisis.​  

#ResOuLakaz     #BeSafeMoris

Government
Information Service, Prime Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre,
Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org  Website: http://gis.govmu.org  Mobile
App: Search Gov