Rabat – The Moroccan Labor Union, UMT, has announced a general strike in all public and private sectors across the country from February 5-6.
The decision signals growing impatience with the government’s policies, which the union says have been unfavorable to workers and detrimental to their purchasing power.
In a statement released on Sunday, the UMT accused the government of failing to adequately tackle the increase in living costs, sidelining social dialogue, and pushing forward the organic law on the right to strike without proper consultation.
It denounced the authorities for acting in favor of employers while ignoring the rights of workers and unemployed youth.
The statement further castigated the policies that, according to the union, undermine fundamental public services such as education and healthcare.
Demand for immediate action
The UMT called for a general strike for all categories of workers, blaming the government for worsening social tensions.
The union also called for urgent action to curb inflation, set price caps, and prevent speculation, arguing that these steps are necessary to save citizens’ purchasing power.
It also demanded a halt to the legislative process surrounding the right to strike, objecting to what it described as a biased and opaque review of proposed amendments.
The union demanded new negotiations to ensure fairness and equity in labor legislation while asking the government to implement previous commitments on salary and pension increases.
Escalating tensions
UMT organized a press conference in Casablanca on Monday to explain the reasons behind this strike.
Several other labor unions took part in the event as an expression of solidarity against government policies.
UMT Secretary-General Miloudi Mokharek denounced what he called “irresponsible governance,” notably on social questions such as labor rights and economic policy.
The press conference coincided with the parliamentary session when the House of Councillors approved the draft law on the right to strike. The bill was passed with 41 votes in favor, 7 against, and no abstentions.
UMT-affiliated members opposed the bill, walking out before the voting began to protest against what they saw as a rushed and unilateral decision.
Mokharek also criticized Morocco’s head of government for reneging on agreements over social dialogue.
“We are striking in response to the government’s refusal to hear our demands,” he said. “We also condemn its deliberate attempt to pass such an important law without allowing public and social discussion.”
He recalled previous agreements between the UMT, employers, and the government that called for biannual discussions in April and September. These meetings never took place, he said, with the government canceling them without justification.
The UMT made it clear that this strike is only the beginning.
In particular, they warned that they will escalate the action in the coming months if the government continues to ignore the demands of workers.
The union then concluded its announcement by calling on all political parties and civil society to stand in solidarity with the workers against policies it said undermine social stability.
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