Major Pension Protest Planned for Port-Louis on 31 October

A coalition of Mauritian trade unions is escalating its battle with the government over the Basic Retirement Pension (BRP), calling for a large national demonstration in Port-Louis on 31 October 2026. The call to action was announced at a press conference on Wednesday 23 September by the Platform Komun Sindikal (PKS) — a united inter-union platform that brings together multiple trade union federations in Mauritius. The PKS has been at the forefront of a sustained campaign demanding that the government restore the full BRP to all citizens from the age of 60. **What is the BRP dispute about?** The Basic Retirement Pension is a universal, non-contributory state pension paid to Mauritian citizens when they reach retirement age. Under the current framework, the full pension is not accessible to all retirees at age 60 — a situation the unions argue unfairly penalises older workers and retirees who depend on the benefit. The PKS accuses the government of effectively cutting the pension for around 16,000 people in 2026, a claim made forcefully by senior union leader Reeaz Chuttoo at the press conference. Speaking partly in Mauritian Creole, Chuttoo declared: "Whatever decision they make, the 31 October march will go ahead." He also took aim at the government's plans to mark International Day of Older Persons on 1 October, saying he would be ashamed to celebrate the occasion when thousands of people have had their pensions reduced. **How the march will unfold** The demonstration is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Centre Social Marie-Reine-de-la-Paix — a well-known community centre in the heart of the capital — and will march through Port-Louis to the Jardin de la Compagnie, the city's central garden square. Organisers are urging both current workers and retired citizens to join. **What this means** For tens of thousands of retirees and workers approaching retirement age, the BRP is a critical source of income. The unions argue that restricting full access to the pension at 60 disproportionately harms those who have spent decades in physically demanding, low-income jobs and are unable to continue working into their mid-sixties. Beyond the immediate financial grievance, the PKS says it is sounding the alarm over a broader deterioration of Mauritius's basic retirement system — raising concerns that recent policy changes point to a long-term weakening of social protections for the elderly. The government has not yet publicly responded to the march announcement or indicated any willingness to revisit the pension policy ahead of the 31 October mobilisation. Source: ION News