| (i) | The 54,800 unemployed comprised 28,300 males (52%) and 26,500 females (48%). |
| (ii) | Around 30,000 (55%) of the unemployed were single; males (63%) and females (46%). |
| (iii) | Some 32,100 (59%) of the unemployed did not have the Cambridge School Certificate (SC) or equivalent and among them, 11,400 had not even passed the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) or equivalent. |
| (iv) | Around 35,400 (65%) had been looking for work for up to one year. |
| (v) | Some 18,800 (34%) were looking for a job for the first time. |
| (vi) | Around 23,500 (43%) were registered at the Employment Service Information Centre. |
| (vii) | Some 9,700 or 18% of the unemployed were heads of households. |
| (viii) | Around 17,500 (32%) lived in households with no employed persons. |
| (ix) | Some 17,100 or about 31% of the unemployed were aged below 16 to 24 years. |
| (x) | There were 10,300 (19%) young persons aged 16 to 24 years, not yet married and looking for a first job. Some 4,700 possessed a qualification below SC. |
Press
Public service: Electronic Time Recorders used again
Electronic Time Recorders will be used again from September 1 in the public service. As of Wednesday, the attendance of officials will be recorded electronically rather than manually. The use of these machines had been temporarily halted during lockdown to prevent transmission of Covid-19.
Population reaches 1,266,334
Statistics Mauritius indicated Tuesday that the population of Mauritius stood at 1,266,334, with a rise of 320 (+0.03%) over the population as at 1 July 2021.
This governmental institution said islandwise, the population was as follows: Island of Mauritius: 1,221,844; Island of Rodrigues : 44,216 and Agalega and St Brandon: 274.
COVID-19 : 60 % de la population complètement vaccinée
La barre des 60 % de la population vaccinée contre la COVID-19 a été franchie. Selon le gouvernement, Maurice est le 2e pays d’Afrique, après les Seychelles, avec le plus fort taux de vaccination et annonce qu’à partir du 15 septembre 2021, la vaccination sera obligatoire dans 5 autres secteurs.
The Key Repo Rate remains unchanged
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Mauritius (Bank) on 4th July 2021 unanimously decided to keep the Key Repo Rate (KRR) unchanged at 1.85 per cent per annum.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has, in its July 2021 World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update, maintained its 6.0 per cent global growth forecast for 2021. For 2022, the global economy is projected to grow by 4.9 per cent, up from the April 2021 WEO forecast of 4.4 per cent. Risks to the global growth forecast are tilted to the downside. Widespread disparities among countries and regions are expected to persist.
The recovery of the domestic economy is expected to gain momentum with the re-opening of borders for international travel. Improving external demand, accommodative monetary policy conditions and the government’s support measures are also expected to revitalise economic activity. Bank staff projects real GDP growth of 5.5 per cent for 2021.
Protecting consumers
Protecting consumers
In the endeavor to protect the consumers, the Government ensured that importers, distributors and retailers do not bear the brunt of this measure. As a result, this Government is providing a subsidy to the importers and distributors through the Mauritius Revenue Authority. This price control measure is estimated to cost around Rs 500 million and is fully funded by Government.
Officers of the Consumer Affairs Unit of my Ministry are effecting daily visits to trade premises and are inspecting supermarkets, hypermarkets, shops and warehouses. The products under price control are available on the local market and no shortage is foreseen.
In addition, the MRA has also made arrangements for any licensed retailer who still had in his possession a remaining stock of the seven commodities as at 12 July 2021 to apply for the subsidy only for the month of July 2021. As at 29 July 2021, 14 eligible traders have been registered under this scheme.With respect to payment of subsidy, the eligible traders shall be able to make their applications as from 2 August 2021.
The Consumer Affairs Unit has effected 1,435 visits and issued a total of 119 contraventions as at 29 July 2021. These contraventions include offences where traders did not properly affix the prices of products and where they were practicing a price which is higher than that fixed by my Ministry. No case of hoarding has been found and therefore no trader has been contravened for same.
Vaccines for all
Since Monday 02 August 2021, all the 17 vaccination centres around the island ar open to every citizen who wishes to be inoculated. This decision has been taken as the vaccines have yielded expected results and in order to vaccinate more than 60% of the population at the earliest.
Food systems in the face of Covid-19
Given the indispensable role of food and the basic need for food supply stability, the Minister pointed out that there is a need to reconsider our food systems, the way we produce, process and consume locally, and take into account sustainability, distribution channels and the avoidance of food waste.
The Food Systems Summit will be convened by the United Nations next October, as part of the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The Summit aims to launch bold new actions to deliver progress on all seventeen SDGs, each of which relies to some degree on healthier, more sustainable and equitable food systems.
The COVID-19 pandemic has alerted all countries including Mauritius, to take stock of respective vulnerabilities regarding food systems. The pandemic has not only been a health calamity but has also caused economic hardships, severe disruption in services as well as restrictions on movement putting the food, health and economic system under severe stress.
Govt. to introduce price control
Taking note of the rising prices of several essential commodities, the government has agreed to – (a) introduce a measure of price control by fixing a maximum price for edible oil, pulses, canned tomatoes, milk powder, margarine, cheese and canned fish (sardines and pilchards); (b) introduce a subsidy on these products with a view to compensating the loss in revenue to importers, manufacturers and wholesalers or distributors who sell the goods to retailers; (c) re-establish the former Price Observatory in order to provide the public a greater visibility on prices of essential products for more informed buying; and (d) allow the State Trading Corporation to import certain essential products in order to reduce importation costs, stabilise retail price and make the product more accessible and affordable to the general public.
Covid-19 : plus de 500 000 Mauriciens vaccinés à ce jour
Un adulte sur deux à Maurice est déjà vacciné. Le cap de 500,000 personnes vaccinées a été dépassé ce jeudi 24 juin 2021. Le Premier ministre a également annoncé l’arrivée prochaine de 500,000 doses de vaccins Sinopharm.