● How come that the unemployment rate keeps increasing while the government has announced the creation of many jobs? While the unemployment rate was at 9.1% last year, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) gave a forecast rate of 9.3% this year. According to the minister of Finance, Rama Sithanen, the number of jobs created does not automatically lead to a decrease in the unemployment rate, as there are always newcomers on the labour market. As a result, the jobs created must provide for those already unemployed and those currently coming on the labour market.

● What are the concrete measures taken by the government so far? The main problem comes from the discrepancies between job seekers and employers? demands. Thanks to a number of initiatives of the Empowerment Programme (EP), the information is intended to reach unprivileged regions of the island through training given there. The EP also wants to encourage women to set up their own small business, as they represent 60% of the unemployed.

● How many jobs does the government intend to create by the end of the year? They intend to create 9,000 new jobs by the end of 2007. But this will not be enough to fight long-term unemployment. The government will be launching training sessions for all unskilled unemployed people because 28% have no Certificate of Primary Education and 37% no School Certificate.