Morocco’s Government Initiates New Round of Social Dialogue with Labor Unions

Rabat – The Moroccan Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch launched a new round of social dialogue on Tuesday in Rabat.

Chaired by Akhannouch, the meeting marked a significant step towards addressing long-standing challenges faced by Moroccan workers, according to a statement.

During the session, Akhannouch engaged in constructive discussions with a delegation from the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT), led by Secretary-General Miloudi Moukharik.

One of the key points of discussion centered on pension reform, a critical issue affecting workers across various sectors. Both parties agreed to continue collaborative efforts to tackle this and other social challenges facing the country.

Faced with a mounting deficit in the pension fund, the government announced in November 2021 the establishment of a roadmap to include three million additional workers in the national security fund CNSS.

By expanding the base of young people contributing to the fund, the government hopes to gap the fund’s continuously-expanding deficit.

Akhannouch emphasized the essential role unions and business organizations like the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises play in strengthening Morocco’s social fabric and driving the nation’s economic growth.

He further highlighted the importance of a participatory approach to governance, aiming to establish enduring partnerships between the government and its social and economic stakeholders.

Reflecting on past achievements, Akhannouch hailed the success of previous dialogues in improving working conditions and advancing the rights of employees in multiple sectors. He described the outcome of the dialogue as “positive” and praised the commitment of all parties involved.

Converging reports indicate that during the meeting, labor unions tabled a demand to increase the minimum wage by 38% to reach MAD 5000 ($495) in addition to reducing taxes on the country’s middle class.

Following the meeting with the UMT delegation, a series of discussions are scheduled throughout the week with representatives from other prominent labor unions, including the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM) and the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), as well as business representatives from the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM).