19. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

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1 19. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE 19.1 The is responsible for the implementation of foreign and trade policies and is involved in the development and formulation of policies that safeguard and promote the interests of the Republic of Mauritius and Mauritians abroad. The vision of the Ministry is, thus, to ensure a prosperous and sustainable Mauritius fully integrated into a peaceful, globalised and equitable world Its mission is to develop and implement a foreign policy that actively: builds and consolidates friendly ties globally and promotes peace and security at the international level; promotes, safeguards and defends the national interests of Mauritius; contributes towards the building of a secure, equitable and democratic international community; fosters economic growth through the expansion of trade and integrates Mauritius into the global economy; works towards sustainable development through the deepening and acceleration of regional integration; provides consular services and assistance to the Mauritian Diaspora and Nationals abroad; and develops a modern, effective and excellence-driven Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade The Ministry is under the administrative headship of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs who is also the Accounting and Responsible Officer. There are three Divisions under the Ministry namely the Foreign Affairs Division, Regional Integration Division and the International Trade Division which includes the Industrial Property Office Alongside the structure at the Headquarters of the Ministry, there are 20 Diplomatic Missions including two Consulates in the various parts of the world. These Missions are normally headed by an Ambassador/High Commissioner or a Consul as appropriate. Foreign Affairs Division 19.5 The Foreign Affairs Division represents the core area of activity of the Ministry. It is divided into six Directorates viz the Bilateral Directorate I, Bilateral Directorate II, Bilateral Directorate III, Multilateral Political Directorate, Multilateral Economic Directorate and Protocol Directorate respectively. Each Directorate is headed by either an Ambassador or a Minister-Counsellor or a senior diplomatic officer The Bilateral Directorates are responsible for overseeing relations of Mauritius with other States on a bilateral basis; the Multilateral Political Directorate is responsible for multilateral political issues on the international agenda and activities relating to regional and international organisations; the Multilateral ~253~ Pay Review 2013

2 Economic Directorate focuses on emerging economic and trade issues at international level; and the Protocol Directorate is responsible, inter alia, to facilitate visits by Heads of States, Heads of Government and guests of the Government of Mauritius and provides protocol support and courtesies during such visits The Secretary for Foreign Affairs heads the Division. He is assisted in his tasks by a Permanent Secretary and officers of the Diplomatic cadre. We are, in this Report, reinforcing the structure of the Division by providing a new level to monitor and manage all projects of the Ministry. Project Manager, Foreign Affairs (New Grade) 19.8 The missions overseas are housed in old buildings as well as in recently constructed ones. These buildings are government owned and nearly most of them require maintenance and upgrading in a cost-effective manner Management has represented that in the context of implementation and management of the renovation/refurbishment projects, the services of a Project Manager are imperatively required for the examination of technical reports submitted by overseas consultants. The Bureau has carefully examined the request and is making provision for this new level to enable the Ministry to manage and monitor its infrastructural projects in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Recommendation We recommend the creation of a grade of Project Manager, Foreign Affairs on the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Appointment thereto, should be made by selection from among candidates possessing a Degree in Civil Engineering recognised by the Council of Registered Professional Engineers of Mauritius together with a minimum of three years post registration experience in project management Incumbents would be required to, inter alia, monitor and manage all the projects of the Ministry; assist in the implementation of infrastructural projects of the Ministry; prepare project write-up and tender documentation and assist in evaluation of tenders; monitor progress on projects and submit progress reports at regular intervals to Management; and assist the Ministry in the preparation of budget for building and civil engineering projects We further recommend that the post should be filled on contractual terms for a period to be determined on the basis of the duration of the projects. Pay Review 2013 ~254~

3 Attaché (Administration) The grade of Attaché (Administration) which belongs to the General Services Class exists on the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade. Management has submitted that, besides performing the normal duties of the grade, incumbent is also required to represent the Mauritius mission abroad in meetings, conferences and socio cultural activities/events and prepare reports for submission to the Ministry. We have considered this in arriving at the salary recommended for the grade which is being made evanescent. Accumulated excess hours of work In the 2008 PRB Report, we allowed officers posted in the Protocol Directorate to carry over the excess hours of work accumulated into the following year. We are maintaining this recommendation. Recommendation We recommend that officers posted in the Protocol Directorate, who have not been allowed to offset their accumulated excess hours against time off in the year it fell due, may be allowed by the Responsible Officer to carry over the excess hours of work accumulated into the following year provided that a written application to offset the extra hours of work accumulated against time off has been made by the officer concerned in the year it was due and such time off has not been approved due to the exigencies of the service We also recommend that the excess hours accumulated that have been carried forward should lapse if not taken as time off in the year that they have been carried over. Entertainment Allowance At present, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Ambassadors are paid a monthly entertainment allowance of Rs 6250 and Rs 4500 respectively for receiving and entertaining representatives of foreign countries and for reciprocating invitations received when posted at the Head Office. We are maintaining this provision and revising the quantum. Recommendation We recommend that the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Ambassadors should be paid a revised monthly entertainment allowance of Rs 6875 and Rs 4950 respectively. Second Secretary At present, Second Secretaries are allowed to proceed incrementally in the master salary scale up to salary point Rs 45000, subject to certain conditions. We are maintaining this recommendation and revising the salary point. ~255~ Pay Review 2013

4 Recommendation We recommend that Second Secretaries be allowed to proceed incrementally up to the revised salary point Rs in the master salary scale through the grant of one increment every year provided they have: (i) (ii) drawn their top salary for a year, and been consistently efficient and effective in their performance as evidenced by their Performance Appraisal Report during the preceding period of two years and have not been adversely reported upon on ground of conduct. Duty Exemption to Ambassadors Submissions have been received to allow Ambassadors returning to their home country, after a tour of service, to benefit from duty exemption on the car purchased by them in the country of posting. We are making appropriate provision to this effect. Recommendation We recommend that, subject to the approval of the High Powered Committee, Ambassadors returning to their home country after a tour of service in our mission abroad should be allowed to benefit, only once, from duty exemption on the car purchased by them in the country of posting and be governed by provisions as at paragraph of Volume 1 of this Report. Duty Free Facilities for Second Secretaries Second Secretaries are eligible to loan facilities and 70% duty exemption subject to satisfying certain conditions. We are maintaining this provision and revising the salary point for eligibility to Duty Free Facilities. Recommendation We recommend that Second Secretaries, who by nature of their duties, are required to attend various conferences/meetings in other organisations, receive delegates, organise workshops/events and work after normal working hours on a regular basis and drawing a monthly salary of at least Rs 35400, should be eligible to loan facilities and 70% duty exemption for the purchase of a car on the terms and conditions as per relevant provisions at paragraphs and of Volume 1 of this Report Appropriate recommendation in respect of Foreign Service Allowance and other allowances which are payable to officers of the Diplomatic cadre, have been made at Chapter 18 of Volume 1 of this Report. Pay Review 2013 ~256~

5 Regional Integration Division The Regional Integration Division is responsible to monitor activities relating to the regional organisations to which Mauritius belongs, namely the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC). Its portfolio includes issues relating to bilateral cooperation and the African continental integration which has a regional perspective The Division is headed by a Director, Cooperation who is assisted by a Deputy Director, Cooperation and is supported by officers in the grades of Principal Cooperation Analyst, Senior Cooperation Analyst and Cooperation Analyst While we are maintaining the organisation structure which is appropriate, we are restyling the grades in the Cooperation Analyst cadre and providing duty free facilities to Analyst (Cooperation) formerly Cooperation Analyst subject to certain conditions. Duty Free Facilities for Analysts (Cooperation) formerly Cooperation Analysts Submissions have been received for the grant of 70% duty exemption for the purchase of a car from officers in the grade of Analyst (Cooperation) formerly Cooperation Analyst. We are making recommendation in respect of this benefit. Recommendation We recommend that, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms, officers in the grade of Analyst (Cooperation) formerly Cooperation Analyst who are drawing a monthly salary of at least Rs and who by the nature of their duties are required on a regular basis to attend meetings/conferences, outside their organisation, receive delegates, organise events/workshops and regularly work after normal working hours, should be eligible to loan facilities and 70% duty exemption for the purchase of a car on the terms and conditions as per relevant provisions at paragraph and of Volume 1 of this Report. International Trade Division The vision of the International Trade Division is to ensure the smooth integration of Mauritius into a globalised and liberalised world economy. Its mission include, inter alia, to: formulate Trade Policies; elaborate the negotiating position of Mauritius at the level of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and on trade pertaining to the different blocs/arrangements; monitor developments taking place at the multilateral and regional levels; and defend the interests of Mauritius in trade disputes. ~257~ Pay Review 2013

6 19.33 The Division provides information to the public on trade policies at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels through seminars, workshops, lectures and publications with a view to assisting or facilitating research on trade related matters in collaboration with the WTO and International Trade Centre through the database of the WTO Reference Centre Activities of the Division are organised into the Trade Policy Unit, the Industrial Property Office and the Industrial Property Tribunal The structure of the Trade Policy Unit comprises a Director, Trade Policy as Head, a Deputy Director, Trade Policy and officers of the Trade Policy Analyst cadre We are not bringing any major change as the present structure is appropriate except for the restyling of the grades in the Trade Policy Analyst cadre and maintaining the provision of duty free facilities for Trade Policy Analysts. Duty Free Facilities for Analysts (Trade Policy) formerly Trade Policy Analysts Analysts (Trade Policy) formerly Trade Policy Analysts are eligible to loan facilities and 70% duty exemption subject to satisfying certain conditions. We are maintaining this provision and revising the salary point for eligibility to Duty Free Facilities. Recommendation We recommend that Analysts (Trade Policy) formerly Trade Policy Analysts, who by nature of their duties, are required to attend various conferences/meetings in other organisations, receive delegates, organise workshops/events and work after normal working hours on a regular basis and drawing a monthly salary of at least Rs 35400, should be eligible to loan facilities and 70% duty exemption for the purchase of a car on the terms and conditions as per relevant provisions at paragraphs and of Volume 1 of this Report. INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY OFFICE The Industrial Property Office (IPO), which has been established under the Protection Against Unfair Practices (Industrial Property Rights) Act 2002 is responsible for the protection of Industrial Property in Mauritius. Its objective is to provide an efficient and timely registration of Trade Mark and Industrial Property and grant of patents. IPO enforces the Protection Against Unfair Practices (Industrial Property Rights) Act 2002, the Patents, Industrial Designs and Trademarks (Regulations 2011) and other International Provisions such as the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the Hague Agreement and the WIPO s classification systems. Pay Review 2013 ~258~

7 19.40 The core functions of the IPO are, among others, to provide a legal and administrative framework for the promotion and protection of the Industrial Property Rights; formulate and review Industrial Property Rights Policies and Legislations; maintain and disseminate Industrial Property information and documents. It also processes applications received for the protection of Industrial Property Rights and issues certificates and constantly updates and administers its legislation so as to keep pace with new international trade development policies IPO has a four level structure, consisting of the Controller, Industrial Property Office, Principal Industrial Property Officer, Senior Industrial Property Officer and Industrial Property Officer. At present, the post of Controller, Industrial Property Office is vacant and the qualification requirement in the scheme of service of the grade has been reviewed to enable filling of the post. The Principal Industrial Property Officer has been assigned the duties of the latter post to cater for the day-to-day administration of the office. Consequently, one Senior Industrial Property Officer has been assigned duties of the Principal Industrial Property Officer Following request from Management and after careful analysis of the competencies required at this level of operation for the post and availability of candidates with legal qualification on the market, we are making appropriate recommendation. Recommendation We recommend that, in future, recruitment to the grade of Controller, Industrial Property Office should be made by selection from among candidates possessing the Cambridge Higher School Certificate with passes at Principal level in at least two subjects together with a Degree in Law and either a Master s Degree in Law or Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property or in a related field and reckoning at least five years experience in legal matters. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE SALARY SCHEDULE Salary Code Salary Scale and Grade Rs Secretary for Foreign Affairs ~259~ Pay Review 2013

8 Salary Code Salary Scale and Grade Rs Ambassador High Commissioner Permanent Representative Permanent Secretary Rs Minister Counsellor/Deputy High Commissioner Rs x x First Secretary Rs x x Project Manager, Foreign Affairs (New Grade) Rs x x x x Second Secretary Rs x x x x Attaché (Administration) (Personal) Rs x x x x Driver Rs 8500 x x Stores Attendant Rs Director, Cooperation REGIONAL INTEGRATION Rs Deputy Director, Cooperation (Personal) Pay Review 2013 ~260~

9 Salary Code Salary Scale and Grade Rs x x Deputy Director, Cooperation Rs x x Principal Analyst (Cooperation) formerly Principal Cooperation Analyst Rs x x Senior Analyst (Cooperation) formerly Senior Cooperation Analyst Rs x x x x Analyst (Cooperation) formerly Cooperation Analyst Rs x x x x Driver Rs Director, Trade Policy INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIVISION Rs Deputy Director, Trade Policy (Personal) Rs x x Deputy Director, Trade Policy Rs x x Principal Analyst (Trade Policy) formerly Principal Trade Policy Analyst Rs x x Senior Analyst (Trade Policy) formerly Senior Trade Policy Analyst ~261~ Pay Review 2013

10 Salary Code Salary Scale and Grade Rs x x x x Analyst (Trade Policy) formerly Trade Policy Analyst Rs x x Controller, Industrial Property Office Rs x x x Principal Industrial Property Officer Rs x x x Senior Industrial Property Officer Rs x x Industrial Property Officer Rs x x x x Trade Policy Information Officer Rs x x x x Driver ********** Pay Review 2013 ~262~