COMMUNIQUE

COVID-19 SELF–EMPLOYED ASSISTANCE SCHEME

The Government of the Republic of Mauritius has decided to implement a Self-Employed Assistance Scheme (SEAS) through the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) to assist self-employed persons who have suffered a loss of revenue as a consequence of the lockdown in the fight against Covid-19.

1. A self-employed individual who is in business, or a tradesperson operating in the informal sector, e.g. a mason, a cabinet maker, a plumber, a hairdresser and an artist is entitled to join the assistance scheme provided he is a Mauritian national above 18 years of age and who has been in business for the last 3 months.

    

2. The following individuals are NOT eligible to the assistance:
   1. an individual who is an employee, whether full-time or part-time;
   2. a person who is eligible to receive basic retirement pension;
   3. an individual who receives monthly social benefits;
   4. an individual pursuing higher studies on a full time basis;
   5. a person who is a dependent spouse;
   6. a person who was unemployed at the beginning of March 2020;
   7. an individual who forms part of a household having total monthly income (including passive income, e.g rent, dividends, interests or profits) exceeding Rs. 50,000;
   8. an individual who is in a business where he earns only passive income, e.g rent; or
   9. a fisherman.

    

3. Eligible self-employed individuals and tradespersons will receive a financial support of Rs 5,100 each for the period 16 March 2020 to 15 April 2020. They must submit their applications online on MRA’s website: www.mra.mu All payments will be credited to their respective bank accounts.

    

4. For any further information or assistance under the scheme, the MRA may be reached by email on headoffice@mra.mu or by calling on 207 6000.