Ganesh Parajuli, deputy leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) parliamentary party, met with Muhammad Reza Cassam Uteem, Mauritius’s Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, to discuss the rights and safety of approximately 14,000 Nepali workers in the island nation.
The discussions, held during Parajuli’s unofficial visit to Mauritius, focused on protecting the interests of Nepali workers and enhancing labour cooperation between Nepal and Mauritius. Key topics included the effective implementation of the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on worker recruitment and ensuring a safe, dignified, and fair working environment for Nepali labourers.
Ensuring worker protection and fair practices
Parajuli’s secretariat stated that the meeting also addressed strengthening cooperation between the two countries through the effective implementation of existing labour arrangements. The bilateral labour MoU, signed on June 11, 2019, established the ‘Employer Pays Principle,’ mandating that all recruitment fees and costs be borne by the employer.
Under the MoU, Nepali workers in Mauritius are entitled to wages and benefits no less than the minimum wage for Mauritian citizens. The agreement also prohibits discrimination against any worker regarding wages, overtime allowances, working environment, and access to justice.
Nepali workers in Mauritius
The Ministry of Labour previously indicated significant potential for sending Nepali workers to Mauritius, particularly in the hotel, hospitality, and manufacturing sectors. As of August 25, 2026, 6,334 individuals had obtained labour permits for Mauritius. An estimated 14,000 Nepali workers are currently employed there.
Nepal initiated the process of signing a labour agreement with Mauritius as part of its policy to diversify foreign employment destinations. The 2019 MoU was signed in Geneva by then-Nepali Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista and then-Mauritian Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training Sudesh S. Callichurn.
The meeting between Parajuli and Uteem underscores a commitment to further initiatives for the safety and rights of Nepali workers abroad. No specific outcomes or next steps from the discussions have been detailed.
