Since the beginning of the year, Mauritius has been experiencing a series of wave of layoffs affecting both the public and private sectors. According to data compiled to date, over 2,800 jobs have been eliminated across the country, impacting numerous families and raising concerns about the stability of the labor market.
This figure reflects a complex and multifaceted economic reality. While the job losses have sparked significant concern among the population, economists and labor market observers urge a deeper analysis of the underlying dynamics driving this situation.
The public sector has been among the hardest hit, with approximately 1,700 municipal employees dismissed by the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC). This decision has sent shockwaves through local authorities. In the semi-public sphere, institutions such as the Central Electricity Board (CEB), the Special Education Needs Authority (SENA), the Tourism Authority and the National Parks and Conservation Service have also undertaken staff reductions, collectively cutting around 100 positions. Additionally, the Bank of Mauritius terminated the employment of 25 staff members in February, citing compliance with legal procedures.
The private sector has not been spared. In the manufacturing industry, Star Knitwear experienced two successive rounds of layoffs — 240 jobs were cut in February, followed by an additional 483 in June, after the company entered judicial administration. The construction sector also faced significant job losses, with approximately 300 layoffs at Kuros Construction Ltd, including around 100 Mauritian nationals.