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Doha – Morocco’s nationwide general strike launched Wednesday has achieved an 84.8% participation rate across the country, according to the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT), as workers protest against a controversial new strike law and deteriorating purchasing power.
The two-day strike, initiated by four major union confederations including UMT, CDT, ODT, and FSD, has paralyzed multiple sectors, with education and healthcare witnessing near-complete shutdowns.
UMT Secretary General Miloud Moukharik reported 100% participation in public education, while healthcare maintains only emergency services.
The unions’ call for action stems from multiple grievances, including opposition to plans to merge the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) and the National Fund for Social Welfare Organizations (CNOPS) without proper consultation, as well as proposed pension system reforms that unions claim threaten workers’ social benefits.
The industrial action comes as Morocco’s Parliament approved a new strike law Wednesday morning, with 84 votes in favor and 20 against. Employment Minister Younes Sekkouri defended the legislation, stating it explicitly recognizes political and solidarity strikes and extends strike rights to domestic workers and self-employed individuals.
However, union leaders strongly oppose the law, describing it as “restrictive and regressive.” Moukharik criticized the government’s handling of economic issues, stating: “Every day we wake up to price increases, while the government stands by as a spectator, giving the green light to speculators and those with interests and wealth at the expense of the Moroccan people.”
The strike has achieved complete paralysis in strategic sectors including automotive manufacturing, logistics, and public administration.
The Ministry of Agriculture and its services, the Ministry of Finance and the tax services, CNSS headquarters and agencies, as well as vocational training offices and institutes have all reported 100% participation rates.
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While most bank branches remained closed, some non-unionized employees continued working. The postal service has also completely halted operations.
International solidarity also poured in, with Spain’s General Union of Workers (UGT) expressing “full support and solidarity with their sister union organizations CDT and UMT in this more than justified general strike.”
The Spanish union emphasized that “a government that doesn’t believe in social dialogue turns its back on workers and shows no interest in improving working class conditions.”
The Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) also declared “absolute solidarity with Moroccan unions in their legitimate struggle,” condemning what it called “a flagrant violation of workers’ rights and a bypass of fair social dialogue principles.”
In particular, the UGTT criticized the handling of the strike law and social security reforms, highlighting concerns about the deteriorating purchasing power of citizens.
The strike comes amid rising economic challenges in Morocco, where unemployment increased to 13.3% in 2024 from 13% in 2023, largely due to job losses in the agricultural sector following successive years of drought.
Workers face an increasingly precarious economic context characterized by low wages, uncontrolled inflation, and constant loss of purchasing power.
The government has pledged $1.4 billion to boost employment through support for small and medium enterprises.
While Minister Sekkouri highlighted today that the new law includes fines up to MAD 200,000 ($20,000) for employers who obstruct strike rights, union leaders maintain that the legislation was developed without proper consultation with labor organizations.
The strike looks to continue through Thursday, marking one of the largest labor actions in recent Moroccan history.
Union leaders are demanding immediate changes to improve working conditions, fair wages, and labor legislation that respects democratic principles and fundamental rights.
Some analysts suggest the impact of such general strikes has diminished over time due to changes in work patterns and reduced union membership rates, but the broad participation across sectors indicates significant worker discontent with current government policies.
