We wish to refer to the article ?Recrutement à Entreprise Mauritius, le dénouement? published on Wednesday 16 February 2005. As members of staff of EPZDA, we would like to raise the following points.

It is not the first time that a parastatal organization is being restructured. Recent cases include DBM Ltd, MHC Ltd and Mauritius Post Ltd. In all these restructuring, there was a systematic way of proceeding which led to a smooth transition. In the case of Enterprise Mauritius, this course of action is taking an odd shape. Staff feels they are not being given the right consideration. No one can deny the contribution of our support Institutions to the local industry. We fully appreciate the initiative of government to create Enterprise Mauritius in the light of globalization and the New World Economic Area. However, there is strong need to have real transparency, with the right of staff safeguarded.

In the case of Enterprise Mauritius, it is pointed out that those who would have not been employed by Enterprise Mauritius would be provided with a package for their retirement. We are given to understand that this will imply abolition of office. The basic question remains ?à qui profitera the abolition of office ??

Nobody in Enterprise Mauritius has thought of the issue of conflict of Interests. How is it possible that in such an exercise a director on substantive capacity is called upon to chair the Board of Enterprise Mauritius which will take over the activities of EPZDA ? It is as if a student sets the exam questionnaire, sits for the exams, corrects the script ad proclaims himself as laureate. At the same time the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry acts as Chairman of both EPZDA & MIDA and is the Chairman of the HR Committee for EM. This is, of course, not transparency! In your article it is mentioned that ?tout le monde est informé et à chaque étape.?

We find this very much a cosmetic exercise since when we are supposed to be consulted on the issues, we are just being informed of ?faits accomplis?. This shows the autocratic way in which this exercise is being carried out.

It is indicated that the Unions have given directives not to apply for the posts in Enterprise Mauritius. We wish to make it clear that it is because EM has not provided the staff with adequate information regarding redeployment Pension rights and other modalities in which the exercise would be carried out that unions have given this ?mot d?ordre?.

We are surprised that a Memorandum of Understanding has not been finalized and signed and yet the recruitment process is being conducted. We feel that in all logic it should have been the other way round.

Given the points raised above we fail to see the so-called ?Dénouement?.

Representatives of EPZDA Staff