Unemployment statistics has always led to confrontations in political circles. The minister of Labour, Showkutally Soodhun, declared in a press conference that the number of unemployed is decreasing and even below the Central Statistics Office (CSO) estimates. According to the latest figures released by the CSO, unemployment has dropped to 8.4% in 2004 (from 10.2% in 2003).

The method used to estimate the number of unemployed was changed last year, which leads to different interpretations of the statistics. Of course, the opposition has used this change to say that the number of unemployed is actually higher than stated while the government asserts that the unemployment rate has constantly been going down.

The figures however speak for themselves. The unemployment rate has been falling constantly since June 2004. After a peak of 9.2% (49,500 people) in June, the rate dropped to 8.4% (44,300) in September and 7.6% (39,900) in December 2004. Despite these official statistics, both government and opposition keep speculating on the ?real? number of unemployed people. The former states they are only 20,000 while the latter?s estimates reach 60,000.

The minister of Labour challenges anyone to contradict his version and further states that there could actually be less than 22,000 unemployed in Mauritius. ?Some are self-employed. Others systematically refuse the jobs our services offer them.?

According to the CSO report, the labour force fell from 541,000 in March 2004 to 522,300 in December 2004. The official institution explains that this may be due to factory closures and job losses the latter entailed.

There are more and more people who cannot find or do not want to have a job ? which constitute the non-working population ? according to the CSO. Once more, the factory closures left many women of more than 45 years old without a job. ?These people do not want to start working again,? says an official of the CSO.

The minister ended his conference with other statistics: he asserts there are 10,000 vacant posts in the textile sector and in the public service. In other words, the minister seems to imply that people who really wanted to work could ?easily? find a job?