Dhaka, July 17 - Mauritius is phasing out male workers and hiring only women from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, a newspaper report here said Friday, quoting a local labour recruiting agent.

The recruiting agent, who was not named, said the southern African island nation would not send back workers before their job contracts expire but it now has a policy of not hiring male workers from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.

Bangladesh has been concerned at reports from Mauritius that the latter will send back 6,000 workers, employed mainly in its garment industry.

'On Wednesday alone, 86 female workers flew to Mauritius,' the recruiting agent told The Daily Star newspaper.

This was confirmed by an official of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment who said a recruiting agent sought permission to send several hundred women workers.

'Mauritius has not been issuing work visas to male workers for several months now as part of its policy. But it is hiring female workers as per demand,' said the agent.