National Protocol on Heavy and Torrential Rain to enhance public safety and coordination

The adoption of the National Protocol on Heavy and Torrential Rain for Mauritius, aimed at ensuring a harmonised and coordinated response during extreme weather conditions, has been approved by Cabinet. The Protocol, which will apply to the public and private sectors, emergency services as well as the education sector, was reviewed by an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations.

The Committee met on several occasions and made a series of recommendations regarding arrangements to be implemented during heavy and torrential rain warnings issued by the Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS).

For employees in both the public and private sectors, irrespective of whether they are working on a full-time, part-time or shift basis, the Protocol provides that during a heavy rain warning, employees will be required to report for duty and continue working unless and until an Order or communiqué is issued by the National Crisis Committee (NCC) instructing them to evacuate the workplace, remain indoors or refrain from reporting to work.

In the event of a torrential rain warning issued by the MMS, employees, except those engaged in emergency services, will not be required to report for duty or continue working. Employers will also not be required to wait for an Order or communiqué from the NCC before releasing their employees. Resumption of work will take place only after the NCC issues a communiqué declaring that it is safe to venture outside or report to work.

With regard to emergency services, employees may continue to be required to report for duty or remain on duty during extreme weather conditions, as is presently the case. Furthermore, every agency providing emergency services will be required to develop and maintain an internal protocol and contingency plan aligned with the National Protocol on Heavy and Torrential Rain for Mauritius.

As regards public and private childcare and educational institutions, the Protocol stipulates that the closure of childcare facilities, schools and universities, or the release of students following heavy or torrential rain warnings, will continue to be governed by communiqués issued by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Education and Human Resource, and the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, as appropriate.

The recommendations also provide that following an Order or communiqué from the NCC declaring that it is safe to venture outside or report to work, employers may require employees to resume duty provided that transport is made available by the employer or public transport is operational from the employee’s place of residence to the workplace.

In addition, provisions regarding remuneration during extreme weather conditions will be extended to workers earning more than Rs600,000 annually. Employees working from home during such conditions will be remunerated at not less than twice the normal rate applicable during regular working hours.

The National Protocol on Heavy and Torrential Rain for Mauritius will be made public and will come into effect once the necessary amendments are brought to the Workers’ Rights Act and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.

25 May 2026

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Topics: Weather