Reunion Island: Mauritians used as slave labour

A 51-year old farmer has been arrested in Reunion Island for having undocumented Mauritians to work on his farm. They were effectively being treated as slave labour by their employer, says a report published on 14 December 2016 by clicanoo.re online news website based in Reunion Island. 

The Prosecution of the island has initiated proceedings against the farmer for “human trafficking” says the website. The Mauritian illegal workers were paid around Rs 90 per hour and had to work between 7 to 20 hours a day. They were mainly recruited as fruit pickers for the orchards situated in Sainte-Anne. A majority of the 250 persons employed by the farmer are Mauritians.

The illegal workers were living in poor-housing conditions and their meal would consist of a tin of sardine and a baguette for three persons, says the website. They received a daily wage of 50 euros but the employer would deduct rental, food and transport costs from those. The Mauritians came to Reunion Island on tourist visas and the farmer recruited them in Mauritius.