Minister Uteem advocates for Evidence-Based Labour Policies

The need to adopt an evidence-based approach to formulate effective labour policies, with greater emphasis on empirical data, research and analysis, was highlighted by the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations, Mr Muhammad Reza Cassam Uteem, this morning at the Gold Crest Hotel in Quatre Bornes.

He was speaking at the opening of a National Training Programme themed ‘Evidence-Based Policymaking for Decent Work and Social Justice’. The Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles, Mr Frederick Muia, was also present.

Minister Uteem emphasised that sound policymaking requires systematic data collection, thorough analysis and concrete action. He illustrated this by outlining the apparent mismatch in the labour market, with Statistics Mauritius reporting some 32,000 unemployed persons alongside 65,000 foreign workers. He stressed the need for an in-depth assessment to better understand the underlying causes of this situation.

The Minister also referred to the ongoing review of the Youth Employment Programme, which has faced several challenges, resulting in an underspent budget. The Programme's eligibility criteria, restricted to Higher School Certificate holders or those with higher qualifications, excludes around 80% of unemployed youth, thereby limiting its effectiveness, he pointed out.

Furthermore, Mr Uteem called for a comprehensive review of recruitment frameworks in the public service to better respond to the needs of job seekers. He reiterated that an evidence-based approach can help address challenges and improve the effectiveness of employment policies and programmes.

For his part, Mr Muia commended Mauritius for taking ownership of its development priorities and investing in the capacity of its people and institutions. He observed that the world of work is evolving, with young people seeking meaningful employment, workers aspiring to decent wages and career development, and employers facing difficulties in finding the required skills.

Mr Muia moreover underscored the importance of grounding policy decisions in reliable evidence, including labour market statistics, research findings, surveys and international experience. He also underlined the need for social dialogue to develop appropriate solutions to emerging labour market challenges.

Jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations and the ILO, the training aims to equip participants with advanced research and data analysis skills to translate evidence into effective policies promoting decent work and social justice.

27 October 2026

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Topics: Training, Labour