Termination letters have started reaching World Knits, the textile group under voluntary administration since June. The first to receive them work at its Universal Fabrics plant. Across the group's three factories, Kline Textiles, Universal Fabrics and the World Knits unit itself, 478 people have gone without wages for three months. Labour Minister Reza Uteem told employees who came to his office with unionist Fayzal Ally Beegun that those already let go will recover their unpaid salaries, capped at Rs 50,000, through the Wage Gratuity Fund.
The layoffs and unpaid wages have caused significant concern among employees. Talks with the Mauritius Revenue Authority over the Portable Retirement Gratuity Fund are meant to follow. A US buyer has been mentioned as a potential investor. However, the workers' primary concern is whether their years of service will be paid. On that, Uteem promised a file, but no figure was provided. The uncertainty has left employees anxious about their financial future.
In a separate development, Kobita Jugnauth, wife of former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, questioned investigators from the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) about leaked photos. The images, which included photographs of seven watches, were published as an exclusive. The haul at issue, Rs 114 million found in four suitcases at Josian Deelawon's home in February 2025, is covered by confidentiality rules her defence says were broken.
The Central Electricity Board (CEB) is counting on 675 MW of capacity for summer 2027, against a peak demand of 600 to 610 MW. On paper, that leaves a cushion of 65 to 75 MW. However, experts are not convinced all of it will be running when the island reaches for its air conditioners, after the grid buckled through the 2025 summer. Three large solar farms are due to connect in the coming weeks to shore up the figures.
Mauritius recorded 968 births to mothers under 20 in 2024, and 17 of them were girls younger than 15, according to the Family Planning and Demographic Yearbook 2024. These numbers highlight the challenges faced by young mothers and the need for support systems. Only 6,900 of the island's 86,000-plus residents living with a disability hold a job, a gap Attorney General Gavin Glover put on the record this week.
The Competition Commission has opened an inquiry into possible price coordination among tank and pump suppliers. This follows a grant for a water tank project. Additionally, Labour Minister Reza Uteem is going after illegal employers who have allowed 3,000 foreign workers to slip off the radar. The police have been put on notice over the gap.
In other news, Emirates watched its half-year profit drop by 66%, the Dubai carrier said this week. This is a sharp reversal for an airline many Mauritians rely on to reach Europe and Asia. The global economic landscape continues to present challenges for major airlines.
Key points
- 478 World Knits employees have gone without wages for three months
- World Knits layoffs have started with termination letters being issued
- Employees are uncertain about whether their years of service will be paid
