During the last Cabinet Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, held on June 12, assent was given for introducing the Domestic Abuse Bill into the National Assembly. The bill’s main objective is to repeal the Protection from Domestic Violence Act and re-enact a more comprehensive legislative framework that will be more responsive to the victim’s needs in terms of domestic abuse acts.
The bill aims to attract all forms of domestic abuse by: (a) widening the definition of an act of domestic abuse, including, but not limited to, economic, emotional and psychological abuse; (b) giving more protection and maximises the safety of persons who are victims of acts of domestic abuse, including their children; (c) preventing and reducing acts of domestic abuse to the greatest extent possible; and (d) ensuring that perpetrators of acts of domestic abuse are held accountable for their actions.
The bill also aims for provision to implement an effective and more accessible judicial system to domestic abuse orders; sharing of information between relevant stakeholders to assess, manage and prevent the risk of acts of domestic abuse; introduction of rehabilitation programmes for perpetrators of acts of domestic abuse; and the creation of offences for contraventions of domestic abuse orders.
Cabinet has also taken note that the Attorney-General’s Office is working on amendments to the Criminal Code to include Femicide and Marital Rape as offences under the Act.
In terms of foreign workers, the number of Bangladeshi currently employed on the island in specific scarcity areas stood at 8,975. While the number of Indian workers stood at 15,840, followed by Nepal at 14,821 and Madagascar is at 9,995.
The Cabinet took note of arrangements under the India-Mauritius Government-to-Government Mobility Partnership that provides inter alia, for a modern, transparent and ethical framework for recruitment of foreign labour from India through the Indian National Skills Development Corporation. It also noted that the Passport and Immigration Office has been requested to step up measures to help track missing foreign workers.
A nod was also given during the cabinet deliberations to the Data Protection (Designation, Tasks and Position of Data Protection Officers) Regulations 2026 designed to formalise roles and responsibilities of Data Protection Officers (DPOs). The regulations will establish a framework for the designation, duties, qualifications, independence and reporting obligations of DPOs in the public and private sector.
The amalgamation of the Mauritius International Arbitration Centre (MIAC) with the MCCI Arbitration and Mediation Center (MARC) has also been noted. The MIAC operated as an independent arbitration centre since 2018, relying on the significant expertise secured during the initial phase of its development and the assistance of the Permanent Court of Arbitration under a Cooperation Agreement.
While MARC was set up in 1996, aiming to provide the business community with quick, efficient, flexible and confidential means of resolving disputes through mediation or arbitration, as alternatives to litigation before state courts.
Taking into account the small island size, it is noted that an amalgamation of both arbitral institutions would lead to a rationalisation of their respective resources with the common goal of advancing the Mauritius international arbitration project.
The Cabinet also agreed to the findings and recommendations of the final report, Implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Digital Trade in Mauritius, and setting up of technical committees, including relevant ministries and institutions, to work on the recommendations.
The report examines the jurisdiction’s readiness to implement the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, while identifying key gaps and sets out the needed priority actions to move from policy alignment to implement the protocol.
It also advocates that priority reforms should focus on making existing strengths ‘AfCFTAReady’ by improving interoperability, enforceability and coordination across institutions.
A phased implementation roadmap is on the cards that will charter the setting up of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade at the national level.
