France is easily one of the leading European destinations of migrants from Mauritius. Historically, the French settlement of Mauritius in the 16^th century formed a springboard for the Mauritian diaspora in France.

More launch pads set in more recent times drove waves of Mauritians immigrants to France. Consequently, Mauritius now has an estimated 38,000 migrants in France, a most potent resource for the repatriation of talents or capital.

Looking back, the first major wave of Mauritian migration to France occurred in the early 1960s. That was when Mauritius was moving towards its independence from British administration. Those who moved to France then included Franco-Mauritians, as well as other residents who chose immigrating to the UK and Australia. Another wave of migrants also mainly to those destinations ensued in the early 1980s.

New migration strategy

The influx of Mauritian diaspora to France picked up anew in 2008. It came about as Mauritius began harnessing circular migration amongst its development strategies.

The Mauritian government’s first initiative under this tack was its signing of a bilateral agreement on Circular Migration with France. Initially, this pact enabled Mauritius to send some 500 migrant workers to France. It also facilitated Mauritius-based companies hiring of skilled French nationals.

As many as 1,000 Mauritians got jobs in France under the circular migration programme. They included not only professionals and workers but also students. Their deployment in the French labour market covered 61 occupations in all.

Re-integration mechanisms

The governments of Mauritius and France has also ensured that appropriate schemes are set up for the economic and social re-integration of Mauritian diaspora in France returning to Mauritius. The migrant workers who establish a job-generating business receive from French authorities the necessary training, equipment, and financial assistance.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority in Mauritius, for its part, extends assistance in the design of the returning migrants’ business planning and related activities. The Development Bank of Mauritius also extends soft loans to returning migrant workers setting up business ventures.

Additionally, the government has put up Mauritius Business Growth Scheme (MBGS) that can tap. Eligible ventures under MGBS receive financing on a cost-sharing basis to support business growth.

A Mauritian Diaspora Scheme is another valuable programme for migrants from Mauritius planning to return to the island. This programme offers plenty of benefits not only to the returning migrants. Its coverage and incentives also extends to the migrants’ children or grandchildren born abroad. They can work in local companies and contribute their skills and expertise gained overseas. As an alternative, they can register in the scheme as a self-employed individual bringing back a trade, business, or profession.

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