The Mauritian government has taken a bold step to reshape the private recruitment sector, especially for foreign professionals. With the introduction of the Guidelines on Private Recruitment Agencies Regulations (2025), under the Private Recruitment Agencies Act 2023, the island is redefining how recruitment is conducted. For foreign workers, recruiters, employers, and international agencies, this signals a major shift: tighter restrictions, higher compliance costs, and stricter transparency requirements 鈥� but also new opportunities. Whether you plan to work in Mauritius, hire international talent, or establish a recruitment agency, it's crucial to understand the new framework. Here's what is changing, and what lies ahead.
The new legal framework: What the guidelines require
Three distinct licenses
One of the most significant measures is the introduction of three separate licenses, depending on the agency's activities:
- Recruiting Mauritian citizens for local jobs
- Recruiting Mauritian citizens for jobs abroad
- Recruiting non-citizens for jobs in Mauritius
Each license application requires extensive supporting documents, including proof of business address, three years of financial statements, a certificate of incorporation, a certificate of good conduct for directors, a valid Building and Land Use permit, and more. This segmentation is designed to prevent conflicts of interest, combat illegal labor trafficking, and avoid situations where foreign workers are 鈥渋mported鈥� without proper oversight.
Strict conditions and government oversight
Before a license can be granted, the government will conduct on-site inspections to ensure that agencies have suitable premises, including a reception area, a landline, and internet access.
Licenses will be valid for three years, non-transferable, and must be visibly displayed. Agencies will also be required to pay substantial license fees and provide large security deposits, especially those involved in foreign recruitment. If an agency fails to comply with its obligations, its license may be suspended or revoked, and the deposit forfeited.
Agencies will have to meet strict reporting obligations, such as notifying authorities of new job offers within two working days and submitting consolidated quarterly reports on placements and offers.
Mauritian jobseekers registered with the National Employment Department will be given priority for local job opportunities, limiting unnecessary competition from foreign candidates.
The costs are not negligible: Rs 75,000 for a domestic recruitment license, Rs 150,000 for international recruitment. Agencies hiring foreign workers or placing Mauritians abroad face even steeper requirements鈥攁 security deposit of one million rupees. This is meant to cover potential disputes or non-compliance and can be seized in case of serious violations.
Sanctions are clear and enforceable. The Permanent Secretary has the authority to suspend or revoke a license in cases of false declarations, unauthorized management changes, or criminal convictions for fraud involving key personnel.
In short, a license is no longer just an administrative formality鈥攊t's a trust contract between agencies, candidates, employers, and the government. It's meant to protect workers, raise professional standards among agencies, and secure expatriation processes. But it also acts as a filter, which could reshape the recruitment sector in Mauritius in the coming months.
What this means for foreign professionals and employers
If you're looking for work in Mauritius, your recruitment must now go through a licensed agency. Agencies, in turn, must pay licensing fees and lodge security deposits.
For companies recruiting from abroad, these new rules may make the process more complex, even restrictive. Some cross-border recruitment practices are explicitly limited.
With tighter conditions, agencies will be required to verify qualifications, references, and compliance with local labor laws. This could actually benefit serious candidates by creating a form of 鈥淢auritian recruitment quality label,鈥� ultimately boosting the credibility of foreign professionals working locally.
The aim is also to reduce abuse: hidden fees, misleading contracts, and exploitative working conditions. But for professionals, this will mean more paperwork鈥攙erified CVs, detailed background checks, and possibly regular renewals of documentation.
