Mauritius Civil Service Row: Minister Claims Staff Do Private Work on the Clock

A brewing controversy inside Mauritius's civil service shows no sign of cooling down, as Public Service Minister Raj Pentiah continues to face pushback from government employees angered by his recent comments about workplace conduct. Over the past several days, civil servants from multiple ministries have contacted ION News to express frustration with the minister's remarks. The discontent spread rapidly after Pentiah made pointed comments about a circular concerning public servants who hold outside private employment. **What did the minister say?** Speaking to the press, Pentiah made his position clear: "There are people who, during working hours, are not in their office, are not attending to their public service duties — they are doing their private work on government time. Of course, that is going to cause complete disorder." The comments were made in Mauritian Creole and were tied to a government circular that has placed restrictions on civil servants engaging in private-sector work — a long-debated issue in Mauritius, where many public employees supplement their income through secondary jobs or businesses. **Why is this controversial?** Mauritius has a large civil service, and it is not uncommon for public servants to hold secondary occupations — a practice that has historically been tolerated as long as it does not interfere with official duties. The new circular appears to tighten those boundaries, and Pentiah's remarks — suggesting some workers are openly neglecting their government responsibilities — have been taken by many civil servants as a blanket accusation against the entire public sector workforce. Several employees who contacted ION News said they felt unfairly targeted and that the minister's language was sweeping and dismissive of the majority who carry out their duties properly. **Pentiah attempts to calm tensions** Despite the backlash, the minister appears to be trying to manage the fallout rather than escalate it further. His latest statements are framed as a clarification rather than a retraction — insisting his criticism is aimed at specific individuals misusing government time, not at civil servants as a whole. However, the damage may already be done. Union and worker sentiment within multiple ministries remains tense, and the episode has reignited a wider debate about working conditions, pay, and morale in Mauritius's public sector. **What this means** For civil servants, the circular and the surrounding controversy could signal stricter enforcement of rules around secondary employment. Workers who run private businesses or freelance on the side may face closer scrutiny. For the government, the episode is a reminder of how quickly labour relations in the public sector can deteriorate when ministerial comments are perceived as accusatory rather than constructive. The situation is still developing, with no formal response yet from civil service unions. Source: ION News