Rabat – Abderrahim Chahid, a member of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), has been appointed Morocco’s Minister of Employment and Social Dialogue in the new government led by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri.
King Mohammed VI appointed Chahid on Friday, placing him in charge of a portfolio central to the country’s efforts to create jobs, improve working conditions, and manage relations between the government, trade unions, and employers.
Chahid enters government after serving as president of the Socialist Group-Federal Opposition in the House of Representatives during the 2021-2026 legislative term. His appointment also marks the USFP’s return to government after five years in opposition.
From Zagora to parliament
Originally from Zagora in southeastern Morocco, Chahid built his political career through local and national institutions. He served as president of the provincial council of Zagora, where he worked on issues related to regional development and improving access to services and infrastructure.
He later became a member of parliament representing Zagora. Following the 2021 legislative elections, he was elected president of the USFP’s parliamentary group, which operated as part of the opposition under the government of former Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch.
Chahid also holds a doctorate from Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra. He obtained the degree in June 2026 from the university’s Faculty of Languages, Letters and Arts.
His doctoral research examined cultural diversity in Morocco, focusing on how cultural diversity is recognized and put into practice, using the Draa Oasis as a case study.
His academic interest in the southeastern region reflects one of the issues associated with his political career, which is the development of areas outside Morocco’s main economic centers.
A critic of the outgoing government
During his time in opposition, Chahid repeatedly criticized the government’s economic and social record, including its response to rising living costs and unemployment.
In August 2024, he argued that the Akhannouch government lacked a clear political vision and questioned the effectiveness of its measures to address higher prices. He also warned against reducing subsidies provided through the Compensation Fund, which supports the prices of certain essential goods.
Employment was another focus of his criticism. In April 2026, he argued that the government’s promises on economic growth and job creation had not produced the expected results.
He also raised concerns about the country’s low female economic participation. In May 2024, Chahid recalled the government’s commitment to raising the female activity rate from around 20% to more than 30%.
His appointment now places him in charge of a department responsible for addressing employment issues that he previously scrutinized in parliament.
Tackling employment and labor relations
Chahid takes office as Morocco faces continued pressure to expand job opportunities, particularly for young people, while improving working conditions and strengthening social protection.
His ministry will also oversee social dialogue, which brings together the government, trade unions, and employers to discuss wages, labor rights, and other workplace issues.
The new government has separated employment and social dialogue from some responsibilities previously grouped under the employment ministry. Economic inclusion and small-business affairs, for example, have been transferred to the ministry Ryad Mezzour leads.
This structure places greater emphasis on employment policy and relations between workers and employers within Chahid’s portfolio.
His move from the opposition benches to government will put his previous criticism of employment policies in a new context. He will now be responsible for helping develop and implement policies in a sector he spent years questioning.
