Madagascar and Mauritius aim to better regulate professional mobility to meet growing labor demands and enhance the value of workers’ skills.
Labor mobility is an increasingly important issue for cooperation between the two nations. During the Moris-Mada Business Connect Summit held at the Ivato International Conference Center (CCI), Mauritian Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations, Muhammad Reza Cassam Uteem, praised the contribution of Malagasy workers and advocated for “regular and dignified” recruitment.
According to the minister, nearly 10,000 Malagasy nationals currently work in Mauritius, primarily in the trade, textile, and tourism sectors. Facing an aging workforce, Mauritius intends to address its growing labor needs, and Madagascar, with its young population, represents a vital pool. The demand for Malagasy workers, which is the largest after India and Nepal, is expected to “intensify.”
However, this mobility must be better regulated. The minister acknowledged cases of exploitation and human trafficking, announcing plans to strengthen oversight of recruitment agencies. In March 2025, it was noted before the National Assembly that many irregular workers were Malagasy and African nationals who entered Mauritius on tourist visas. He warned against intermediaries who charge candidates or promise jobs on tourist visas and urged the government to take action.
The core principle is that workers should obtain work permits before departure and enjoy remuneration and working conditions equivalent to those of Mauritian workers. The goal is to ensure a “professional, regular, and dignified” migration path.
Beyond recruitment, skill recognition is another priority. According to the World Bank, 98.9% of employed young Malagasy worked in the informal sector in 2022. Mauritius aims to establish an equivalence system with Madagascar to better identify and certify candidate skills.
Electricians, plumbers, masons, nursing assistants, and machinists are among the sought-after profiles. This approach could foster more structured professional mobility and validate skills currently acquired outside formal training circuits.
Foreign labor already plays a significant role in the Mauritian economy. In the first quarter of 2026, Statistics Mauritius recorded 13,074 foreign workers in export-oriented enterprises, compared to 14,578 Mauritian workers, accounting for nearly 47% of the workforce.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-14 05:53:33 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/emploi-maurice-renforce-le-recrutement.html
