The Government Wage Assistance Scheme (GWAS) and the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme (SEAS) 2021

Following the national lockdown in Mauritius for a period of 15 days (10 to 25 March 2021), the Government of Mauritius has, through the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), decided to reimplement the Government Wage Assistance Scheme (GWAS) and the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme (SEAS).

The MRA has issued a communique dated 13 March 2021 regarding the conditions applicable and the measures taken by the MRA for payment of financial allowances under the GWAS and SEAS.

The communique is accessible on the MRA website or can be downloaded here.

Tourism Sector

The tourism industry will obtain financial assistance under the GWAS and SEAS for the month of March 2021, in full.

The monthly amount payable under the GWAS is equivalent to one month’s basic salary of all employees drawing a monthly basic salary of up to Rs 50,375. However, the maximum amount payable per month per employee is Rs 25,375.

Under SEAS, the monthly amount payable is Rs 5,287.

All Other Sectors

All sectors, other than the tourism sector, will obtain financial assistance under the GWAS and SEAS for half a month.

Under the Government Wage Assistance Scheme, businesses and companies will obtain financial assistance equivalent to half month basic salary of all employees drawing a monthly basic salary of up to Rs 50,375. However, the maximum financial assistance per employee is capped at Rs 12,688. This financial assistance is applicable for all Mauritian and expatriate employees working full-time or part-time in Mauritius.

Under the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme, self-employed individuals will obtain financial assistance of Rs 2,644.

How To Apply

All applications under GWAS and SEAS should be made electronically on the MRA website.

Self-employed individuals are not required to apply for Self-Employed Assistance Scheme if they have previously made an application for the period of March 2020 to February 2021. Self-employed individuals, who have previously applied for SEAS and are not eligible for the financial allowance of Rs 2,644 for the month of March 2021, are requested by the MRA to withdraw their application on the MRA website.

The MRA will effect the payment of financial assistance under GWAS and SEAS directly on the bank account of eligible beneficiaries.