A High-Level Committee on the cleaners issue

After a meeting was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister on the Cleaners issue, Government agreed to set up a High-Level Committee under the chairmanship of Mr D. D. Manraj, Financial Secretary, following confirmation that the hunger strike has ceased around 4 pm on Wednesday.

The Committee will look into the representations on behalf of the cleaners currently employed by private contractors providing cleaning services in schools. It will also examine all options for addressing the aforesaid representations, including the employment of the cleaners on a full time contractual basis without any break between successive contracts of employment and against payment of a monthly wage and identifying an alternate employer for those cleaners, other than Government.

The Committee will submit its report and recommendations to Government by 15 November 2017 and will hold a first meeting on 30 October 2017. The decision to set up this committee was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, and the five members of the cleaner’s women's support committee, Jack Bizlall, Alain Laridon, Rehana Ameer, Narendranath Gopee and Rashid Imrith.

During a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon, Pravind Jugnauth stated that it is worth remembering that they have already made progress because the initial demand was for the Government to employ these cleaners.  “It was agreed that this claim cannot stand. Other options are being considered.”

The trade unionists could not hold their tears. For them, it was a moment of victory and joy. Reaz Chuttoo stated that it is not only a victory for the private workers but also a victory of good over bad. “I do not wish for people to be humiliated the way the cleaners have been for eleven years,” he said. As for Jane Ragoo, she declared that we should be able to fight injustice whenever the need arises.

The women cleaners were very happy to be able to go home. “We are proud to leave from here victorious,” they said. It should be recalled that four women cleaners and trade unionists Reeaz Chuttoo and Jane Ragoo had been on hunger strike since 16th October at Jardin de la Compagnie in Port Louis, to protest against the monthly salary of Rs 1,500 that many cleaners working in schools were earning. These cleaners work for private companies that have won cleaning contracts in schools and colleges.