Work in Mauritius

A good way to get started is to ask around and see if anyone can personally recommend you since personal references will you give you an edge in the job market in Mauritius. It is also recommended to find a job while already in Mauritius rather than to start looking from abroad, although in order to get the work permit, it is best to get the work contract prior to your move to the country.

There are a variety of websites to help in the job search, giving you the opportunity to look for jobs and explore the Mauritian job market online.

The job market

The industries with the highest potential for job seekers include technology and innovation, information and communication, and tourism.

Important:
Jobs in the water sports business and car rental services are not accessible to non-Mauritian citizens.

Good to know:

Sometimes, some job vacancies or job websites ask for your religion uploading your CV, which is somewhat a common practice in Mauritius. But before you do, consider getting a free CV review at TopCV.

Although French is more widely spoken in Mauritius than English, the latter is still the language of business and the official language of the island, and therefore heavily used in most corporate companies. Therefore, it is important to have a good knowledge of English as well as French. Additionally, in order to be eligible to work in Mauritius, the employer has to be able to justify hiring a foreigner rather than a Mauritian citizen, especially if the skillset required can easily be found in Mauritius. Moreover, the foreign professional must meet specific remuneration criteria. It is therefore important to have the work experiences and professional background that are sought after and difficult to find in Mauritius.

Remuneration and conditions

In Mauritius, salaries are quite low, especially compared to European, North American, and Australian standards. For instance, an average salary for a non-managerial position is around Rs 30,000 per month (less than USD 900). The Employment Rights Act (2008) enforces the labour law, and the duration of a working day is eight hours, not counting the 1-hour lunch break.

Workers can be compensated for overtime, but only as agreed by the employer. If an employee works on a public holiday, they would usually be paid twice their daily remuneration. After being employed for 12 consecutive months in the same company, employees are eligible for 20 days of paid time off (annual leave) and 15 days of sick leave. More information can be found on the Ministry of Labour's website.

Employment contract

The wages of the foreign employees can't be less than that of another in the same position, according to the Labour Laws in Mauritius. Foreign professionals are to be remunerated in Mauritian Rupees if working in Mauritius, and the only deductions to be made on the monthly salary relate to those dictated by the labour law, and these include solidarity levies, pensions, and taxes.

The job contract needs to detail the employment conditions, remuneration, and any other information, and must be signed by the employer as well as the employee:

• The expatriate's current situation
• The working conditions (days and hours, breaks, etc.)
• Remuneration and overtime
• Compensation for work performed on Sundays and public holidays
• End of Year Bonus
• Annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave
• Package (accommodation, air tickets, car or travelling allowance)

Useful links:

Ministry of Labour
Main economic sectors in Mauritius
MyJob
CarrerHub
Mauritius Jobs
MyT Jobs
TipTopJob
ProfDir
Living and working in Mauritius