Haniff Peerun, President of the MLC: "Workers Must Be Fairly Compensated"

Haniff Peerun, President of the Mauritius Labour Congress (MLC), is demanding fair compensation for workers as the second round of tripartite discussions on wage compensation for 2026 approaches. He challenges the reliability of the official inflation figures, insisting on a minimum compensation of Rs 1,000 for all workers.

Peerun expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by Statistics Mauritius regarding the contested inflation rate of 3.7%, claiming many responses were vague and did not adequately address several raised concerns. He emphasized that wage compensation should be viewed holistically, taking into account poverty levels to ensure fair and adequate compensation for workers.

He also criticized the government for appointing members to the Statistics Mauritius board without including worker representatives, questioning the integrity of the inflation figures. Peerun noted that Business Mauritius seems to support the inflation rate reported by Statistics Mauritius more than other partners, contributing to mistrust among workers and unions.

Peerun raised concerns about the reliability of Statistics Mauritius's data, recalling the resignation of Gilbert Gnany three years prior due to alleged data manipulation to present a more favorable view of the country's situation. He pointed out that the current director of Statistics Mauritius was in charge at the time of Gnany's resignation, further complicating trust in the reported figures.

He highlighted that the government often grants wage compensation below the reported inflation rate, and the amount varies depending on individual salaries. Peerun called for the government to publish a "State of the Economy Report" to allow the public to assess the economic situation objectively, especially given the Prime Minister’s recent comments on the deteriorating economic climate.

Regarding the different compensation proposals from various unions, Peerun acknowledged that while the figures may differ, the gaps are not as significant as they appear. He noted that unions base their figures on local realities rather than international standards, which may not accurately reflect Mauritian living conditions.

He stressed the importance of considering local context when discussing compensation rates, particularly the impact of rising household debt and poverty levels, as some families now rely on loans to afford basic necessities.

Looking ahead to the upcoming negotiations, Peerun expressed hope that the Prime Minister would lead the discussions, emphasizing the urgency of finalizing compensation to ensure payments commence in January. He reiterated the MLC's demand for a minimum Rs 1,000 compensation across the board, highlighting the struggles of the middle class who have not benefited from recent wage increases or bonuses despite facing higher living costs, as they are the backbone of the economy.