Business updates

COVID-19 Workplace Access Permit during curfew period

1. WHEREAS the Minister of Health and Wellness has, by virtue of regulation 14(1) of the Prevention and Mitigation of the Infectious Disease (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020, issued a Curfew Order on 22 March 2020 [General Notice No. x of 2020] that no person shall remain outdoors in Mauritius as from 23 March 2020 at 20 00 hrs until 02 April 2020 at 20 00 hrs.

2. WHEREAS regulation 14(2) of the said Regulations further provides that the Commissioner of Police may issue a permit to a person to be outdoors for the sole purpose of leaving his place of residence to his place of work, and leaving his place of work to his place of residence.

3. WHEREAS it has been considered that the presence of as few persons as possible at any workplace or in any public place is essential in order to better protect the health of the public and employees generally from the risk of being infected by Coronavirus. Moreover, the World Health Organisation has called upon governments to have urgent and aggressive measures in order to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.

4. NOW, with a view to ensuring that essential services will need to be provided for the proper functioning of the country during this curfew period, the Monitoring Committee-COVID 19 set up by Government had consultations with the Commissioner of Police and, as per proposals made by the said Committee, a minimum number of employees of the following sectors will, subject to such conditions as the Commissioner of Police may impose, be issued with a permit to be outdoors for the sole purpose of leaving his place of residence to his place of work, and leaving his place of work to his place of residence:

• - Public Sector Organisations (including Ministries and Departments)

• - Medical Services (Private Clinics, Pharmacies, Laboratories, Manufacturer of medical devices, etc)

• - Manufacturers of Sanitary and Hygiene Products, Detergents, Sanitisers and Masks

• - Nursing Homes and Medical Care Providers

  - Supply of food (including Bakeries, take away and home deliveries)

  - Food production, farming (fruits, vegetables & livestock), food processing and beverages

• - Supermarkets and associated supply chains (including online purchase and home delivery)

• - Cleaning and Scavenging Services

• - Freight Forwarding and other Logistic Activities

• - Licensed Telecom Operators

• - Utilities

• - Petrol Stations and Cooking Gas distribution

• - Banks, Insurance and other Financial Services

- Tourism

- Airlines
- Port and Airport related activities
- Press, Media and associated services

- Transport Industry including Taxis
- Security Guards and Watchmen

- Others (Specify)

5. Any employer from the sectors referred to application to the Commissioner of Police for the issue of a permit in relation to his employees. The Application Form can be downloaded from the following websites:

1. (a)  police.govmu.org

2. (b)  pmo.govmu.org

3. (c)  mof.govmu.org

4. (d)  www.businessmauritius.org

5. (e)  www.mcci.org

6. (f)  www.mexamauritius.org
   

Applications should be submitted on workaccesspass@govmu.org

Download full communique and application forms here.

6. However, employers are reminded that permits shall only be issued by the Commissioner of Police where he is satisfied that the presence of an employee at his place of work is essential for the provision of minimum service since such a permit is an exception to the general rule of restriction on the movement of persons.

22 March 2020