The world is different today. The economy is evolving. The forces of globalisation require economies to transform, from the traditional industrial model of yesteryears, into modern post-industrial ones. Indeed, Mauritius is fast evolving from an agro-based and manufacturing economy to a service and knowledge-based economy and hence, our economic growth is heavily reliant on a flexible, around the clock workforce.

A country’s economic activities can no longer be restricted to the confines of the traditional 9am-to-4pm working hours. Not only do consumers increasingly expect access to goods and services 24 hours a day but the global economy and our sustained economic growth also demand it.

As the Prime Minister clearly emphasised in his speech at the launch event of the campaign, Mauritius is known as the “tiger of the Indian Ocean” and it is inconceivable that the “tiger” sleeps every day at 5pm while businesses around the world are still operating. Certainly, an economy which is able to operate efficiently and smoothly round-the-clock is deemed by many to be a pre-requisite for sustainable competitive advantage and for building our resilience to external shocks, particularly in wake of the threat of global recession reaching our shores.

Moreover, the 9am-to-4pm syndrome is posing a serious threat to the growth potential of the emerging sectors (ITES-BPO, Financial services, seafood hub etc.) of the economy. These sectors are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit staff to work during the so-called ‘unsocial hours’. Paradoxically, especially in the textile and construction sectors, firms need to rely on foreign labour while Mauritius, at the same time, is facing a relatively high unemployment rate. Evidence shows that the 24/7 concept can go a long way towards addressing many of these issues.

The HRDC has, therefore, decided to embark on a national sensitisation campaign to:

• trigger a wave of consciousness among the Mauritian workforce to face the challenges of a changing economy;

• expose the Mauritian population to best practices applied in other countries;

• enlist the support of all the key stakeholders including relevant authorities, law and enforcement and transport-related bodies, employers, NGOs, trade unions, media etc. to provide the enabling environment and make the 24/7 economy a reality;

• sensitise employers to empower workers, adopt alternative work practices and create an enabling environment; and

• provide a sound and solid base of career guidance to the student population, parents and retrenched workers so as to reduce the mismatch within the labour market.