Organization : Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment & Training
Type of Facility : e-Work Permit System
Country: Mauritius
Website : https://workpermit.mu/web/index/pagename/home
e-Work Permit System :
The e-Work Permit System is an integrated system put up by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment enabling, amongst others, the online
Related : Ministry of Industrial Relations, Employment & Training Apply For Work Permit Mauritius : www.statusin.org/8571.html
i. submission and processing of applications for:
** Work Permit/Certificate of Exemption
** Permission in Principle
** Recruitment Licence
** Authorisation Card
ii. payment of fees;
iii. verification of status of applications; and
iv. issue of provisional Work Permits/Certificate of Exemption.
The system includes an e-Work Permit Portal which may be accessed on workpermit.mu. With the implementation of the e-Work Permit System, only online applications will be accepted.
Registration On The e-Work Permit Portal:
Prior to undertaking any transaction on the e-Work Permit Portal, applicants are required to register with the System.
The following steps should be followed:
Step 1 – Filling of online Applicant Registration Form:
** Go to workpermit.mu
** Click on “Register Now”
** Read and Agree to the “Terms and Conditions”
** Select the “Type of Applicant”
** Go to the Applicant Registration Form
** Fill in the required fields in the Applicant Registration Form
** Enter a valid email address as Username
** Upload the Required Documents
** Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation (where applicable)
** Copy of Business Registration Card (where applicable)
** Copy of relevant licences (where applicable)
** Copy of Shareholders Certificate (where applicable)
** Proof of Address (any utility bill)
** Agree to the Declaration
** Submit your Registration
** Check your Mail
Step 2 – Verification and Validation of Registration:
** One of the Directors/designated Authorised Users of the e-Work Permit Portal as provided in the Applicant Registration Form would then have to call in person within 2 weeks of this notification, to the nearest Employment Information Centre (EIC), within working hours, to sign the Applicant Registration Form.
** The original of the scanned documents should be produced for verification. The person calling at the Ministry should bring along his/her National Identity Card.
** A username and password will be issued by email to Authorised Users to enable them to access the e-Work Permit Portal for submitting online applications.
Grant Of Work Permits:
Legislation:
The Non-citizens (Employment Restriction) Act 1973, stipulates that a non-citizen shall not engage in any occupation in Mauritius for reward or profit or be employed in Mauritius unless there is in force in relation to him a valid permit and he engages in the occupation, or is employed in accordance with any condition which may be specified in the permit. The Act also stipulates that “no person shall have a non-citizen in his employment in Mauritius without there being in force a valid permit in relation to that employment.”
Main criteria for the grant of Work Permits:
The main criteria for the grant of Work Permits are as follows:
(i) foreign workers should possess the skills, qualifications and expertise required for the job applied for;
(ii) foreign workers should normally be aged between 20 and 60 years. Departure from this policy is exceptionally made for investors and expatriates who are above 60 years and who possess specific expertise;
(iii) the employer/company should have made efforts to recruit workers on the local market; and
(iv) where applicable, companies should have obtained a Permission in Principle/Quota.
Request for Permission in Principle/Quota:
Companies proposing to employ a large number of foreign workers or workers in skilled positions like Machine Operators, Masons, Cooks, etc., should first obtain a Permission in Principle (PIP)/Quota from the Ministry. A PIP specifies the number of foreign workers a company is authorized to employ, the positions and the countries of recruitment. Generally, the ratio of 1 foreign worker for 3 locals is applied in determining a quota. Flexibility is applied in case of scarcity areas and where justified.
Procedures for Permission in Principle/Quota:
The online process for Permission in Principle (PIP) is as follows:
A company should log into the e Work Permit Portal with the username and password. The online “Permission in Principle (PIP) Form” should be filled in and the following documents scanned and submitted:
i. Report from Employment Information Centre (EIC) about availability of local workers of similar grades;
ii. Copy of press advertisement and outcome of selection exercise. Advertisement in newspapers should be of at least A6 size ;
iii. Numbers of Mauritian employees on the company’s payroll and the latest National Pension Fund (NPF) receipt.
iv. Additional documents required for specific sectors, for example:
Restaurant/Hotel:
Copy of Valid Tourist Enterprise Licence
Latest receipt of contribution to Tourism Employees Welfare Fund
Letter/Document indicating the Number of Covers/Rooms
Construction Sector
Letter of Award clearly specifying start and completion dates of project
Bakery Sector
Bakery Licence
Freeport Sector
Freeport Licence
Fishing Sector:
Licence of Fishing vessel:
Incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed and employers will receive a notification indicating missing information/documents. The effective date of application will be the date when complete application and all required documents are verified correct.
Once a decision is taken on the Request, the company will receive a notification by email whereby the company will have to log into the portal to view the decision.
A Permission in Principle is valid for a period of nine months, during which individual applications for Work Permit should be submitted in line with the quota granted. If applications are not submitted within that time frame, the PIP will no longer be valid and the employer will have to submit a fresh Request if foreign workers are to be employed.