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Rabat- Morocco’s passenger and freight transport operators have called for a 72-hour nationwide strike starting from Monday, March 7, to denounce rising fuel prices. The strike’s duration is up to extension.
The strike’s announcement resulted from a February 24 meeting in Casablanca. Democratic Confederation of Labor, Morocco’s General Union of Workers, Moroccan Union of Labor, National Union of Labor in Morocco, and Democratic Federation of Labor participated in the meeting, according to a joint statement.
During the meeting, the unions’ representatives reviewed the transport sector’s problems resulting from soaring prices and their direct impact on operators in the sector as some of them have declared bankruptcy.
Commenting on the rising fuel prices, Mohamed Mouttaki of the National Democratic Union of the Sector of Taxis reported that the fuel costs more than MAD 11 ($1.12) per liter. This increase burdens the drivers with an additional MAD 30 ($3.05) in daily expenses. “We cannot support this increase alone,” he added.
The five unions are not first in expressing distress about rising fuel prices. On February 15, Morocco’s Association of Transport and Logistics (AMTL) called for a 20% increase in transport fees to “offset the rise in the price of diesel.”
Read Also: Global Oil Prices Reach $100 a Barrel, First Since 2014
The ongoing surge in petrol prices results partially from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reflecting a broad impact on the global market.
Experts reported that the disruption of supply chain issues and rising inflation induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian war have contributed to the rise in gas and petrol prices.
As of March 7, petrol prices reached the highest levels since 2008. Reuters stated that the increase comes amid “market supply fears as the United States and European allies considered banning Russian oil imports and prospects for a swift return of Iranian crude to global markets receded.”
British Brent Crude reached $122.8 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude amounted to $119.2 per barrel on Monday, March 7 at 9:20 p.m.
