SME Employment Scheme : 1,000 Unemployment Graduates Targeted

The SME Employment Scheme, which was announced by the Prime Minister in the previous Budget, will be targeting some 1,000 unemployed graduates.

After consultation with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training, and the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), it has been decided to entrust the responsibility for the implementation and management of the SME Employment Scheme to SME Mauritius. The project addresses a number of existing challenges at different levels, including the inability of SMEs to recruit graduates and youth unemployment.

The SME Employment Scheme aims at developing and at instilling entrepreneurial skills and aptitude among graduates as well as boosts the employability of young graduates. Employment will generally be for a period of two years, renewed after the first year upon satisfactory completion. This will be both beneficial to SMEs as well as graduates.

Eligibility for graduates

To be eligible for this programme, the applicant should be unemployed graduates with at least a first degree in any subject from a recognized tertiary education provider. The unemployed graduates should be registered with SME Mauritius, and willing to work in a SME.

The graduates will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 14,000 during the period of employment. The employer will equally pay for the monthly travelling costs. The monthly stipend will be based on attendance.

How to Apply

To apply, the unemployed graduates and registered SMEs should fill the application form available at SME Mauritius, Pope Hennessy Building, 25, Pope Hennessy Street, Port Louis or from any of its regional office located at Bel Air, Goodlands, Coromandel and Mahebourg. Forms will be available as from Friday 17th August 2018. Application Forms can also be downloaded from the Website of SME Mauritius at www.smemu.org or from the Website of the Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives at http://enterbusiness.govmu.org. The deadline for submissions is 7th September 2018.