CABINET DECISIONS – 30 JANUARY 2009
1. Cabinet has taken note of the programme of the State Visit of HE Mr Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China, on 16 and 17 February 2009. HE Mr Hu Jintao would, inter alia, hold talks with the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister on the implementation of some major projects. An agreement on the funding of the SSR International Airport Terminal Extension Project and the General Grant Agreement would also be signed during the visit. He would also visit the China Cultural Centre at Bell Village.
2. In line with the commitment taken by Government to establish truth regarding slavery and indentured labour, Cabinet has taken note that the Truth and Justice Commission Act would come into operation on 1 February 2009. The Act provides for the establishment of the Truth and Justice Commission, the objectives of which are to –
(a) conduct inquiries into slavery and indentured labour in Mauritius during the colonial period and may, for that purpose, gather information and receive evidence from any person;
(b) determine appropriate measures to be extended to descendants of slaves and indentured labourers;
(c) enquire into a complaint, other than a frivolous and vexatious complaint, made by any person aggrieved by a dispossession or prescription of any land in which he claims he had an interest; and
(d) prepare a comprehensive report of its activities and findings, based on factual and objective information and evidence received by it and submit the report to the President of the Republic.
Cabinet has taken note that the President of the Republic has approved of the composition of the Truth and Justice Commission as follows –
Professor Robert Shell Chairperson
Dr (Mrs) Vijaya Teelock, Vice-Chairperson
Head of the Department of History and
Political Science at the University of Mauritius
Dr Parmaseeven Pillay Veerapen, )
Associate Professor in Statistics, )
Faculty of Social Studies and Humanities )
at the University of Mauritius )
) Members
Mr Lindsay Morvan, General Manager, )
TLC (Mauritius) Ltd. )
)
Mr Benjamin Moutou, Historian and Writer )
3. Cabinet has examined the issue of transport problems encountered by students after school hours and has agreed to schools ending, forthwith, at 1430 hours for students as well as Educators. However, the co-curricular activities, which the Ministry of Education, Culture and Human Resources was encouraging to ensure the overall development of students in a holistic manner, will be maintained through a re-arrangement of the time-table.
In order to ensure that there is no reduction in teaching time and that Educators put in the required number of teaching and attendance hours in accordance with the recommendations contained in the Report of the Pay Research Bureau, there will be a corresponding increase of 10 school days in term time. These arrangements, which have been discussed with parties concerned, have been submitted to the High Powered Committee, chaired by the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, for endorsement.
4. Cabinet has taken note of activities which would be organized to mark the National Day Celebrations on the theme "Nou Pays Nou Fierté". The official ceremony, which would be organised at Champ de Mars, would comprise march past by Disciplined Forces and Uniformed Organisations, Flag-Raising Ceremony, Helicopter fly-past, défilé of floats and cultural items. With a view to giving a new dimension to the celebrations, high standard cultural shows would be organised throughout the country on National Day.
5. Cabinet has taken note of the Child Safety Action Plan Report elaborated in the context of the National Information and Communication Technology Strategic Plan and has agreed to the implementation of the recommendations made therein to promote child safety online at national level. The Action Plan, inter alia, recommends –
(a) the setting up of a Child Safety Online Website;
(b) the conduct of sensitization campaigns on Child Safety Online;
(c) the elaboration of Safety Measures for Schools and Public Internet Access Points;
(d) the promulgation of best practices for Internet Service Providers; and
(e) the enactment of legislation to child safety online.
The global internet offers new opportunities for children and families to research their homework online, communicate at international level, and build personal websites to share their creativity with others. However, while the technology offers unparalleled opportunities for children and adults to learn, it has also an immeasurable impact on the sexual exploitation of children and other abuses, such as child pornography, cyberbullying, grooming and paedophilia. According to the Internet Child Safety Foundation Survey – “Impact of Internet on Children” conducted in September 2007 in Mauritius, it had been found that less than 10% of parents monitor the websites visited by their children. The implementation of the Action Plan would, therefore, help consolidate measures taken to combat child abuse online.
6. Cabinet has taken note of the programme of activities for the year 2009 which the Ministry of Youth and Sports proposes to implement to promote sports activities and to detect sports talents, viz.
(a) the introduction of football in primary schools, with the collaboration of the "Federation Internationale de Football Association" (FIFA) to detect new talents among young boys and girls;
(b) the reintroduction of the "Jeux de L’Avenir" to encourage youth to practise sports;
(c) the recruitment of a “Directeur Technique National” (DTN) in Football to restructure and dynamise local football; and
(d) the organisation of Inter-College Games with the collaboration of the Mauritius Secondary Schools Sports Association and the National Sports Federations.
7. Cabinet has taken note that the Employment Relations Act and the Employment Rights Act would be proclaimed to come into operation on 2 February 2009 and that the following regulations would be made in that context –
(a) the Employment Rights (Registration of Employers and Permits of Job Contractors) Regulations relating to the issue of job contractors permit and the registration of employers;
(b) the Employment Relations (Trade Union) Regulations relating to fees to be charged, keeping records, inspection of records and winding up of Trade Unions; and
(c) the Employment Relations (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2009 to bring minor amendments to the First, Second and Fourth Schedules to the Employment Relations Act.
8. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment would make the Travel Agents and Tour Operators Workers (Remuneration Order) Regulations incorporating the recommendations of the National Remuneration Board for the workers employed by Travel Agents and Tour Operators.
9. Cabinet has taken note of developments in the implementation of the Urban and Knowledge Industry Development Project at Highlands which comprises the setting up of knowledge services-based industries, a state-of-the-art office complex, the development of world-class residential and social amenities, space for leisure activities and nature tourism, hotels and resorts, as well as offices for Ministries and Government Departments.
10. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of –
(a) the Commission for Conciliation and Mediation set up under the Employment Relations Act with Prof. V.P. Torul as Chairperson; and
(b) the Internet Management Committee with Dr N. Mohamudally as Chairperson.