Rabat – The recently-approved draft law defining the conditions and procedures for exercising the right to strike in Morocco will be subject to additional amendments in the House of Councillors.
Younes Sekkouri, Morocco’s Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, said on Monday that while the approval of the law in the House of Representatives was an important milestone, the current text is “not yet final or complete.”
He made the remarks to the press after a meeting of the Education, Cultural, and Social Affairs Committee in the House of Councillors.
The minister noted that starting Tuesday, negotiations on the draft law will begin with trade union representatives. These discussions will take place alongside the presentation of the draft law to the relevant committee on Thursday. A general debate on the draft law is scheduled for Wednesday next week.
Sekkouri noted the shared commitment of the government and unions to produce a strike law that serves the interests of the working class and newly included groups. He further expressed the government’s readiness to collaborate with the House of Councillors to deliver a law that reflects the aspirations of a modern Morocco.
The draft law was approved last month by a majority in the House of Representatives after significant amendments. It passed with 124 votes in favor and 41 against.
One of the key changes was the inclusion of domestic workers, such as cleaners, caregivers, and cooks, in the list of those eligible to go on strike.
The new law defines a strike as “any voluntary collective work stoppage by professionals, independent workers, non-employees, and domestic workers for a specified period, aimed at defending their rights or interests related to improving their working conditions.”
The government and unions are looking to finalize a version that reflects the needs of all social and professional groups, Sekkouri concluded.
