In 2011, Morocco witnessed nationwide protests demanding a new constitution, known as the “20 February movement.” Today, Moroccans are asking: “What has changed?”
Rabat – Several Moroccan trade unions, including the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), the Democratic Federation of Labor (FDT), and the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM) are protesting on the eighth anniversary of the 20 February movement against the government’s “disregard” for their needs.
Today, eight years on from the Arab Spring and Morocco’s 20 February movement demanding a new constitution, unions are going on strike and conducting sit-ins in front of various ministry headquarters and government offices across Morocco.
The unions leading the protests are condemning “poor” social dialogue negotiations, problems in education and healthcare, and the deterioration of the workers’ situation.
The Islamist group Jamaat Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane (the Justice and Spirituality movement) will also participate in the protest. The group’s members denounced the government’s limiting of its freedom and that of trade union activists to create union offices, in addition to the negligence of their demands despite a series of “negotiations.”
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The Islamist group said in a statement that the “social dialogue” negotiations have stagnated since eight years ago, conveying its support for the protest in Rabat today. Protesters are at the same time on a labor strike.
On February 20, 2011, inspired by the Arab Spring, thousands of Moroccans rallied in Rabat in protests that lasted until the spring of 2012. They demanded an end to corruption; a change in government; better housing, employment, and living conditions; and above all a change in the constitution.
The protests successfully ushered in a new constitution, now known as the 2011 Constitution.
Other separate protests of the same kind took place in Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangier, Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, Larache, Ksar-el-Kebir, Fez, Guelmim, Tetouan, and Sefrou.
