The Leader of Rezistans ek Alternativ Suggested a More Left-Wing Position to the PM
The Minister of Social Security, Ashok Subron, made a powerful statement against those who hold economic power, which he describes as "forces that have controlled our country for 300 years." He spoke during a wreath-laying ceremony by Rezistans ek Alternativ (ReA) in memory of Anjalay Coopen in Cottage on Thursday afternoon, as part of International Workers' Day celebrations.
Subron did not hold back when discussing the 40-hour workweek, one of the electoral promises of the Alliance du Changement. However, 18 months later, this measure, which was supposed to improve workers' quality of life, remains stalled. "Despite our 60-0 majority, we are unable to implement it, as we are listening to the orders of those powerful individuals..." he stated. He reminded that the 40-hour workweek is not a priority for the super-rich billionaires who are "hijacking our government, hijacking the victory that the people granted the government" during the last legislative elections in November 2024.
Therefore, Ashok Subron fervently called on workers to make their sector-specific demands heard. "One minister in the government is not enough, three MPs in Parliament are not enough; we need workers to raise their voices," emphasized Minister Subron.
According to him, the mere will of those advocating for the working class will not be sufficient to bring about concrete changes.
Moreover, in light of the current situation within the government in recent months, Ashok Subron stated that he has made a proposal to Navin Ramgoolam for a new orientation. This proposal aims for a more leftist, more social, and more ecological stance, with solidarity as its main philosophy.
In addition to the 40-hour workweek issue, on which he does not intend to compromise, he revisited the government's commitment to introduce equitable legislation for both private and public sectors during adverse conditions. Minister Subron recalled that the government made this commitment on May 1, 2025, but until now, nothing has materialized due to resistance from the private sector. This has forced the government to propose an amendment to the Workers’ Rights Act to ensure the protection of everyone’s livelihood, without distinction between the private and public sectors.
To explain the reason for this delay, the minister stated, "To say you will elect people to GM or Parliament is not enough. We make commitments, we work, but there are forces that have controlled the country for 300 years, who possess sugarcane fields, large import/export firms, and smart cities, billionaires and multi-billionaires coming here. They act to prevent us from doing what workers need. We had to restart our work, and we are looking to change the laws."
On this issue, he was also tough on the private sector. While he acknowledged that there have been significant advances, Ashok Subron condemned that "in our country, there are powerful individuals who want the government to make decisions in their favor, who want the government to fulfill their desire for wealth accumulation."