Dissemination workshop highlights need for reforms to advance women’s leadership in Mauritius

A dissemination workshop on the findings and policy recommendations of the study titled ‘The Transition of Women to Senior Leadership Positions in Mauritian Institutions: Unravelling Disparities and Charting a Course for Equality’ was held, yesterday, at the University of Technology, Mauritius (UTM) in Pointe aux Sables.

The workshop was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie; the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Mr Lutchmanah Raj Pentiah; the Director General of the UTM, Prof. (Dr.) Hemant B. Chittoo; and other personalities.

Conducted by Senior Lecturer at the School of Business, Management and Finance of the UTM, Dr Deepika Faugoo, the research was funded by the UTM and carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reforms. The study examines the barriers preventing women from accessing senior leadership positions and proposes policy measures aimed at fostering equality and unlocking women’s leadership potential in Mauritius.

The study points out that structural and systemic barriers interact and reinforce one other, thereby creating a powerful ceiling over women’s leadership potential. Examples of the structural barriers identified include inflexible work-life policies/ lack of flexible working; societal and cultural norms; patriarchal attitudes, and limited support from decision-makers. Male-dominated toxic work culture, gender bias, sexual harassment and glass ceiling effect were cited as systemic barriers.

To address these challenges, the study recommends a range of actions in several specific areas: institutionalise flexible working and family-friendly policies; childcare leave policies; executive leadership training for women; affirmative actions and quotas; top management accountability and transparency, and addressing the persistent glass ceiling, among others.

In her address for the occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister welcomed the study as an important basis for reflection and a starting point of action. “Its findings will contribute to the ongoing national efforts to enhance women’s participation in leadership, governance and socio-economic development,” she stated. Mrs Navarre-Marie encouraged all institutions to consider the recommendations of the study not merely as a reading list and theoretical proposals, but as a practical mandate for reforms and concrete actions.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that the country’s future depends on its ability to fully harness the potential of all citizens. “When women rise, institutions become stronger; when women lead, societies become fairer; and when equality advances, democracy becomes more than a constitutional promise and becomes a lived reality,” she underlined.

For his part, the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms reaffirmed Government’s commitment to promoting equal opportunities. He also underscored that public policies must respond to the needs of the population as they have a direct impact on citizens’ lives. Mr Pentiah stressed that policy decisions should be evidence-based, as well as reflective of the people’s voices.

Accordingly, the Minister mentioned that the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation includes provisions within its legal framework to establish a research-based laboratory. He cited the example of the forthcoming Public Sector Reform Bill, for which workshops featuring a well-structured rapporteur mechanism are being organised to ensure effective information gathering aligned with the requirements of the public service sector.

15 May 2026

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Topics: Gender, Civil Service