Fuel Costs Up 33%: Mauritius Civil Servants Union Demands Travel Pay Rise

Civil servants in Mauritius who use their personal vehicles for work are feeling the pinch of sharply rising fuel prices — and the country's largest public sector union is now demanding the government act. The Federation of Civil Service and Other Unions (FCSOU), which represents workers across Mauritius's public sector, has written to Devendre Gopaul, the Secretary for Public Service, calling for an urgent review of travel allowances and mileage reimbursements. The federation's president, Vinesh Sewsurn, described the revision as "reasonable and justified." **How Much Have Fuel Prices Gone Up?** According to figures from the State Trading Corporation (STC) — the government body that controls fuel pricing in Mauritius — petrol rose from Rs 58.45 per litre on 3 March 2026 to Rs 77.70 on 29 September 2026. Diesel moved in lockstep, climbing from Rs 58.95 to Rs 78.35 over the same period. Both increases amount to roughly 32.9%. Those price hikes have not been matched by any corresponding rise in what the government pays civil servants who drive to meetings, site visits, or other work-related destinations. **What Is the FCSOU Asking For?** The FCSOU is proposing a 30% increase across several travel-related allowances, in line with the fuel price surge. Specifically: - The **fixed cost allowance** — a flat monthly sum to offset vehicle running costs — would rise from Rs 2,830 to Rs 3,679. - The **monthly transport allowance** would increase from Rs 15,180 to Rs 19,734. The union is also requesting a review of per-kilometre mileage rates, the travel grant, and other transport-linked payments currently set out in the 2026 report of the **Pay Research Bureau (PRB)** — the independent body that periodically sets pay and conditions for Mauritius's civil service. **What This Means** For tens of thousands of Mauritian civil servants, travel allowances are not a perk — they are a practical necessity. Many use their own cars to carry out official duties and are reimbursed according to rates set by the PRB. When fuel prices rise sharply but allowances stay frozen, the real cost of doing their jobs effectively falls on the workers themselves. The FCSOU's core argument is simple: the government should not expect public employees to silently absorb a 33% increase in fuel costs with no corresponding adjustment to compensation. The ball is now in the government's court to respond to the federation's letter. No government response had been published at the time of writing. Source: ION News