Rabat – Morocco’s strike law has sparked a new controversy after the House of Councillors approved it on Monday.
The government and its allies regard the bill as a necessary step to regulate strikes and balance workers’ rights with business interests. Meanwhile, labor unions and opposition groups strongly disagreed with the current version of the bill.
The bill was passed with 41 votes in favor and 7 against, with no abstentions.
Those supporting it included the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), the National Rally of Independents (RNI), the Istiqlal Party, the Popular Movement, the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM), and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM).
However, strong opposition came from the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), the Socialist Opposition group (USFP), and the National Union of Labor in Morocco (UNTM).
USFP said on the floor that the current draft law “raises many fundamental problems that affect the essence of the right to strike and its actual practice, including the limited definition that the draft law provides for the right to strike.”
Read also: Morocco Lowers Strike Notice Period, Redefines Strikes, and Maintains No Pay Rule
The group argues that the law ignores the reality of the Moroccan labor market, as it does not include employees who do not fall within labor and public services law.
The Moroccan Labor Union (UMT) took an even stronger stance as they walked out of the session before the voting started. Despite their withdrawal, their 43 proposed amendments were still presented during the discussions.
Several new amendments were introduced during the session, some of which had not been reviewed in previous committee discussions. However, opposition groups accused the government of ignoring key changes they had suggested. They argued that the final version of the bill limits the right to strike rather than protecting it.
The bill will now return to the House of Representatives for a second reading after years of debate and delays.
