The moratorium for the banning of the following non-biodegradable single use plastic products has been extended up to 14 January 2023 – (a) plastic bowls and cups used solely for the packaging of food products such as dairy products; and (b) plastic trays for the Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) of food such as fresh meat and pre-cooked/cooked food products for the purpose of extended shelf life.
Author: APEC
SIM cards under control as from 01 January 2022
The government will promulgate the Information and Communication Technologies (Registration of SIM) Regulations 2021 so as to control the sale and use of the Subscriber Identity Module cards (SIM cards), issued by telephony service providers.
In the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Drug Trafficking published in July 2018, it has been stated that there were several issues relating to the use of SIM cards such as the purchase of SIM cards through impersonation, usage of these cards to carry illegal activities such as criminal intimidation, extortion, unsolicited calls, and drug trafficking. Mobile operators would be given a period of three months from the date of coming into operation of the Regulations to set up the required infrastructure and database for the implementation of the Regulations. The Regulations would be effective as from 01 January 2022.
Canada wants more than 400,000 permanent residents and degree holders in 2022
Canada will welcome more than 400,000 permanent residents and holders of diplomas in 2022. Several sectors are concerned, among others: finance, ICT and Marketing and Communication. Remuneration is estimated at around Rs 470 per hour.
Flexi-time maintained in the public service
A flexible schedule has been introduced in the public sector to limit the number of passengers on public transport during rush hour, among other things.
Travel restrictions for the elderly, the disabled as well as young people under 18 during peak hours has been introduced and the appointment schedules at the level of hospital institutions has also been revised. A system for the disinfection of buses has been developed with a categorization of stations into eight respective zones.
Rs 5 million reward money granted from July 2016 to June 2017
Reward money to informers and police officers was granted 34 times for a total amount of Rs 5,502,520 for the period July 2016 to June 2017.
The Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Jugnauth, recalled that reward money to informers was instrumental in assisting the Police in the fight against drug trafficking and other crimes, and that it was in line with Police Standing Order No. 122. He stated that according to information obtained from the Acting Commissioner of Police, the allocation of reward money was undertaken as follows:
- Rs 254,270 to police officers posted to the ADSU in respect of 631 cases of uprooting of cannabis plants;
- Rs 95,350 to personnel of Police Helicopter Squadron;
- Rs 516,000 to those falling in the grade of Inspector of Police/Police Sergeant acting as in charge field teams and above posted to ADSU;
- Rs 3,686,900 to informers of ADSU; and
- Rs 950,000 to informers of the Central Criminal Investigation Department (CCID).
Subsidy on flour
The additional subsidy of Rs 62.00 per pack of 25 kg of flour exceptionally granted in February 2021 to bakeries purchasing flour directly from the State Trading Corporation (STC) has been extended up to 30 June 2022.
COVID-19: New arrangements
New arrangements are being put in place for incineration and burial of persons deceased with COVID-19. The hours of operation of incinerators and cemeteries would be revised as follows – (a) incinerator facilities would be operational from 0800 hours instead of 09 00 hours so as to cater for a maximum of four incinerations per day up to midnight; and (b) late night burial would be allowed up to midnight instead of 22 00 hours. Officers of the Civil Status Office and Health Offices would be on call as from 06 00 hours in the morning for issue of relevant permits for incineration and beyond 22 00 hours for issue of permits for late night burial up to midnight.
Social contributions
The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development would make the Social Contribution and Social Benefits (Contributions by Public Sector Employees) Regulations 2021 and the Income Tax (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2021. Following the implementation of the 2021 Report of the Pay Research Bureau and with a view to putting at par public sector employees with private sector employees, public sector employees would pay as from November 2021, their share of social contribution as follows – (a) 1.5 percent on basic salary not exceeding Rs50,000 per month; and (b) 3.0 percent on basic salary exceeding Rs50,000 per month. The Social Contribution and Social Benefits (Contributions by Public Sector Employees) Regulations would bring the appropriate legislative amendments to implement this decision. The Regulations also make provision for employees of a statutory body which does not fall under the Pay Research Bureau to start paying their share of social contribution as from the date a salary review exercise becomes effective after November 2021. The Income Tax (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2021 provides for an allowance equivalent to the amount payable by the employee as social contribution, received by an employee from his/her employer to be exempt from income
Hotline for relatives of Covid 19 patients at ENT
In a press release issued this afternoon, the Ministry of Health informs the public of the implementation of a Hot Line for relatives and managers of patients admitted to ENT Hospital in Vacoas for the treatment of Covid 19. This hot-line, which is 86066, is operational 24/7 from December 1, 2021. Relatives and people responsible for patients with Covid-19 will thus be able to obtain all the necessary information concerning their state of health. The ministry recalls, however, that only relatives of patients will have the right to information.
A new COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.529) identified
A new COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.529) has been indentified in South Africa and neighbouring countries. The government intends to put strict sanitary measures in place in relation to passengers coming from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe, pending the suspension of all commercial passenger flights from South Africa to Mauritius with effect from Monday 29 November 2021.
Repatriation flights will be organised and will be subject to strict sanitary protocols. In that connection, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will issue a communiqué outlining, inter alia, the sanitary measures being put in place