Minimum wage and employment: a gender perspective for Mauritius [Scholarly Article - Journal of Business and Socio-economic Development, 2022]

Title:

Minimum wage and employment: a gender perspective for Mauritius 

 

Authors:

Varuna Dreepaul-Dabee

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

& 

Verena Tandrayen-Ragoobur

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

 

Published:

Journal of Business and Socio-economic Development, 15 February 2022

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JBSED-10-2021-0134/full/html

 

Abstract:

Purpose 

This paper aims to examine the employment effect of the minimum wage in Mauritius, a country that has recently introduced an economy-wide national minimum wage. As women have low labor force participation rate and higher unemployment rate compared to men, this study sheds light on the impact of the national minimum wage on male and female employment.

 

COVID-19 and Mauritius’ tourism industry: an island perspective [Scholarly Article - Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 2022]

Title:

COVID-19 and Mauritius’ tourism industry: an island perspective  

 

Authors: 

Verena Tandrayen-Ragoobur, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius 

Neha Devi Tengur, National Social, Inclusion Foundation, Port Louis, Mauritius 

& 

Sheereen Fauzel, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius  

 

Published: 

Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 28 January 2022

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19407963.2022.2028159?journalCode=rprt20   

 

Abstract: 

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has brought a halt to the tourism industry. Mauritius, which is a dependent tourism economy, has been highly impacted. International travel restrictions have had significant effects on segments as diverse as air transport, cruises, accommodation houses, hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and other small and medium enterprises. The objective of the paper is to assess the impact of COVID-19 on firms’ performance, employment levels and recovery plans established by firms and the authorities. Using a sample of 100 small- and medium-sized firms in tourism across various regions of Mauritius, the study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on firm’s performance in terms of revenue, investments and employment levels. The effects of recovery measures, assistance schemes provided by the Government and adjustments undertaken by enterprises to boost their activities are probed into. Our results reveal an important negative effect of the pandemic on tourism demands and cash flows. The impact on employment though negative seems to have been cushioned partially by Government schemes.

 

Britain’s ownership of the Chagos islands has no basis, Mauritius is right to claim them [The Conversation, February 2022]

Title:

Britain's ownership of the Chagos islands has no basis, Mauritius is right to them

Author:

Peter Harris

Associate Professor of Political Science, Colorado State University

 

Published:

The Conversation, 20 February 2022

https://theconversation.com/britains-ownership-of-the-chagos-islands-has-no-basis-mauritius-is-right-to-claim-them-177461

 

From the article:

The decolonisation of Mauritius was never fully completed. This is because, in 1965, the British government put islands belonging to Mauritius into a new colonial jurisdiction, the British Indian Ocean Territory, which still exists today. It is long past time for this colonial-era wrongdoing to be made right, and for Mauritius to be made whole.

 

Investigating Mobile Payment Adoption in Mauritius [Scholarly Article - AJBER, September 2021]

Title:

Investigating Mobile Payment Adoption in Mauritius

Author:

Upasana G. Singh, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Published:

African Journal of Business & Economic Research, 27 September 2021

https://journals.co.za/doi/10.31920/1750-4562/2021/v16n3a13

Abstract:

This study investigated the factors influencing the adoption of mobile payment (MP) systems in Mauritius. This was achieved by identifying Mauritian consumers’ shopping patterns and preferences and their perceptions of Mauritian MP systems. The demographics of this study revealed that of the 84 responses received, the majority were male respondents between 18 and 24. Although most respondents were from the rural areas of Mauritius, they preferred shopping at malls, with a small majority preferring online shopping. Cash and debit cards are currently the main forms of payment adopted for in-store shopping, while credit and debit cards are the most adopted for online shopping. Cash and debit cards are the preferred payment methods for in-store shopping, while credit cards and MP systems are preferred for online shopping. The most popular application (app) adopted for MP is the Juice app. The amount participants pay for using MP systems range from MRU 10 to 1000. The statistical analysis of the perceptions of Mauritian consumers of the adoption of MP systems revealed that they found MP systems easy to use and useful. While they indicated that MP systems are secure, concerns were raised about the risks associated with unnecessary and fraudulent charges associated with MP systems. Social influence had little effect on the adoption of MP systems. MP was adopted more where it was compatible with the participant’s lifestyle or shopping behaviour. Participants who displayed a keen interest in technology adopted MPs more frequently. Overall, however, most participants indicated that they intend to continue adopting MP systems in the future. The respondents further expressed a positive attitude towards MPs, especially identifying that MP systems are better than cash. They seem to be more motivated to adopt MP systems if there are rewards associated with their usage. A model of the factors that influence the adoption of MP systems was then proposed.

MAURITIUS - Education success follows ‘massive’ investment, reform (by Dr Romeela Mohee & Dr Romeela Mohee)

Title:

Education success follows ‘massive’ investment, reform 

 

Authors:

Dr Romeela Mohee 

Commissioner of the Higher Education Commission, Mauritius, a professor in chemical and environmental engineering and a former vice-chancellor of the University of Mauritius

&

Dr Anjusha Durbarry

Research Officer at the Higher Education Commission

 

Published:

University World News, 18 February 2021

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=2021021706152321

 

From the article:

According to the UNESCO report Continental Overview: Bridging continental strategy for Africa and Sustainable Development Goal 4 in Africa published last month, Mauritius, with a 2018 enrolment rate of 40.6%, has increased its access to higher education more than any other country in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Mauritius, Cape Verde & Seychelles - Small island states lead the way in tertiary enrolments by Wachira Kigotho

Title:

Small island states lead the way in tertiary enrolments

 

Author:

Wachira Kigotho 

Published:

University World News, 4 February 2021

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20210203120517283

From the article:

Sub-Saharan Africa’s small island states of Mauritius, Cape Verde and Seychelles are way ahead of inland countries in the sub-region in the race to expand access to tertiary education as one way of promoting job creation and global competitiveness, according to new datasets from the Institute of Statistics of UNESCO.

South African company gets R900 million to develop rapid Covid-19 test – using tobacco plants [Business Insider, 27 December 2020]

Title:

SA company gets R900 million to develop rapid Covid-19 test - using tobacco plants

 

Author:

Luke Daniel

 

Published:

Business Insider South Africa, 27 December 2020

https://www.businessinsider.co.za/business/sa-company-gets-r900-million-in-funding-to-develop-rapid-covid-19-test-using-tobacco-plant-2020-12

 

From the article:

* Nicotiana benthamiana - a plant of the tobacco variety - is being used to produce Covid-19 antibodies.

* These bio-engineered antibodies will be extracted from a laboratory in Mauritius and developed into rapid test kits and potential vaccines.

* The company leading the programme is a product of the University of Cape Town's Biopharming Research Unit.