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Rabat – Short sleep, dark morning commutes, difficulty concentrating in school, and disrupted daily routines are some effects of Morocco’s year-round GMT+1 time, according to a new note by the African Center for Strategic and Digital Studies (CAESD).
The report argues that time policy affects more than schedules and touches on quality of life, learning, and social well-being, while promised economic and energy benefits remain unclear.
CAESD noted that keeping GMT+1 produces measurable social and health costs, while its economic advantages largely serve to align working hours with the EU, benefiting mostly offshoring and certain exporters.
Evidence does not show sustained energy savings or productivity gains, the study documents, warning that the decision seems driven more by economic convenience than a full understanding of a societal impact.
Morning darkness and daily strain
The main concern is the gap between legal time and natural daylight in winter. Early mornings remain dark, disrupting sleep and weakening alertness.
Students and teenagers are most affected, as their natural sleep schedules start later. This misalignment leads to fatigue, lateness, and lower performance in school.
The report also stresses wider social consequences. Dark mornings make travel harder and increase the sense of insecurity for students and workers leaving home before sunrise. Road safety may also suffer, the note adds.
Economic advantages are limited
CAESD questions the economic justification for GMT+1. While alignment with Europe allows more shared working hours, it reduces overlap with other major financial centers like London and New York City, limiting international opportunities.
The think tank notes that digital tools, automation, and AI reduce the need for exact time synchronization.
Steps toward a solution
The note calls for transparency and public debate. CAESD urges the government to release the 2018 study on the time change and to open statistical data on energy use and road safety for independent review.
For the short term, the think tank recommends delaying school and administrative start times to 9 a.m. during winter. It argues that this adjustment could ease the strain caused by early darkness.
Finally, CAESD encourages a broad national discussion that goes beyond picking a time zone.
The study concludes that decision-makers should consider sleep, fatigue, school performance, absenteeism, mobility, and safety to find a policy that balances economic needs with public well-being.
