Mauritius casino employees seek job guarantees amid planned privatisation
Tenders & awards2 min read
In brief
- Mauritius Casino Employees Union seeks job protections for about 600 workers as four casinos are prepared for privatisation.
- The union proposed early retirement for workers over 50, continued employment after a takeover and reassignment to SIC-linked businesses.
- Six bids were submitted for the tender, which closed on 17 August 2026; no preferred bidder had been publicly identified.
- The casinos reported losses of Rs272m in the fiscal year ended June 2025 and Rs121m from July to December.
The Mauritius Casino Employees Union is seeking job protections for members as the government proceeds with plans to privatise four casinos, with about 600 employees affected and no clarification on their future, according to a report. The union presented three proposals at a general assembly on 21 October.
The four active casinos affected by the planned privatisation are Grand Baie Casino, Casino De Maurice, Le Caudan Waterfront Casino and Grand Casino Du Domaine. The union seeks a voluntary early-retirement programme for workers over 50 who wish to take part, assurances that current employees will keep their jobs after a takeover, and a way to reassign personnel to businesses managed or partly owned by SIC.
At a previous meeting, management reportedly told union representatives that six bidders had shown interest in buying the casinos. Union president Jayen Moorghen said 21 days had passed without further information being provided.
The union condemned what it claims are decades of political interference and appointments at the affected casinos, which it says contributed to their financial and operational difficulties. The reports cited did not independently confirm those claims.
The proposed privatisation follows prolonged losses at the state-affiliated casinos. In the fiscal year ended June 2025, the casinos reported losses of Rs272m, or roughly $5.8m, and a further Rs121m, or roughly $2.6m, between July and December of the same year. Between 2015 and 2025, SIC invested more than Rs1.3bn, almost $27.7m, in casino activities.
Six offers were submitted for the international tender, which closed on 17 August 2026. Five came from foreign investors and one from a Mauritian operator. PricewaterhouseCoopers was appointed transaction adviser; its study was due to be completed by 30 September, but the reports reviewed contained no public announcement identifying a preferred bidder.