Company XYZ is involved in the production of electrical control panels, alarm panels, safes

and sheet metal products especially designed for customers such as banks, multinationals
and pharmaceutical companies. It has set up a factory in Mauritius since last year to
delocalise the production of sheet casing to take advantage of lower labour costs. The
manufacturing processes include punching, precision cutting, bending, assembly of parts,
some welding, painting and powder coating.
Some production departments, especially for the cutting, painting and powder coating, have
been operating with two shifts per day and the others have been operating with one day shift,
but conducting overtime work 4-5 times per week and sometimes overnight.
The company has recruited you for reviewing the policies, procedures, and structures for
human resource management.
Problem 1
The company has been facing serious difficulties in attracting, motivating and retaining
competent engineers and skilled workers. These difficulties are hampering the company from
establishing itself, sustaining confidence in customers and building a potential future in
Mauritius.
You have been asked to investigate into the situation and make a proposal to address these
issues. From your investigations, you find a strong missing link between the strategic goals
of the organisation and the human resource management. Prepare a proposal on how
strategic human resource management could address the current and future human
resource challenges.
Problem 2
The second assignment is to advise on the necessary policies, management systems,
procedures for better operations management and control and equipment for measurement
and control which need to be implemented in order to reinforce compliance with:
1. Occupational Health and Safety Act 2005
2. Employment Rights Act 2008
3. Employment Relations Act 2008
This assignment has been requested following the occurrence of several problems listed as
follows:
There was a major accident last year and the Ministry of Health conducted an
investigation where it was found that occupational health and safety structures are
not operating effectively whereby:
o Occupational health and safety risks have not been properly evaluated
o Feedback mechanisms are not functioning properly where issues are not
being communicated up
o Enforcement of occupational health and safety policies is inadequate
o There is a lack of preventive measures
Operators have been complaining that they do not know their rights in the company
and have been doing excessive overtime hours regularly
Operators want to know their rights to form a trade union and how the company will
support them in this endeavour

Document yourself very much on the three legislations, and consider the specific
requirements for these manufacturing processes, the context of local human resources and
trade unions before preparing your advice. You are expected to analyse and discuss the
interrelationships between the different issues.
You are strongly recommended to make clear, sound and precise recommendations on the
necessary policies, management systems, procedures for better operations management
and control and equipment for measurement and control which need to be implemented for
improving the situation and not just make audit recommendations, i.e. the hows to solve the
problems.
You are recommended to document yourself on potential company policies, management
systems, operation management tools, systems for safe work to develop a preventive
approach to risk management and human resource management systems and procedures.