The Employment Division, operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, has a Work Permit Unit which is responsible for the issue of work permits to allow them to work in Mauritius.  This Division is also responsible for issuing Recruitment Licenses to recruitment agencies, allowing them to recruit citizens of Mauritius for employment in Mauritius and abroad.  Licenses to recruitment agencies are issued under the Recruitment of Workers Act 1993.

Expatriates are generally allowed to take up employment in fields in which there is a lack of Mauritian expertise. The employment of expatriates is governed by the Non-Citizens (Employment Restriction) Act 1973.