New law to regulate Morocco's domestic services industry

13/03/2009

Housekeepers and other domestic staff across Morocco are hopeful that a new bill will lead to substantive reform of the historically informal sector.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 13/03/09

[Sarah Touahri] Employers of child labour under the age of 15 will be punished under the proposed law.

Domestic labour in Morocco may soon be regulated, if the employment ministry completes a draft law that would set guidelines for the first time in this sizable sector of the economy.

Article 4 of the Labour Code states that "Employment and working conditions for domestic workers employed by the head of the household are covered by a special law", but this law does not yet exist.

The new bill – expected to appear before Parliament during the April legislative session – is intended to fill this gap in the law. The government's aim is to afford the same rights and protections to domestic employees as other workers, and to impose stiffer penalties on violators of child labour laws.

Those employing home staff under the age of fifteen, or who have no approval to act as a guardian for girls between the ages of 15 and 18, will be punished.

Also included in the new bill are salary guidelines for domestic workers. Maids and other staff must be paid at least 50% of the statutory minimum wage of 1,800 dirhams per month.

Additionally, employers may require a one-month probationary period for new employees, renewable only once. After this, they must formalise work arrangements, including a legally binding contract that guarantees the salary and the term of employment.

The employee must be allowed time off of at least 24 hours per week, as well as annual paid leave. The amount of leave must not be less than one and a half days for every month worked.

Maids are eager to enjoy these expanded rights. At the moment, the sector is in a state of anarchy. Employees often work for years without recognition and without any decent recompense. Jamila Bahja, 32, has worked as a maid since age 12. "I've spent my life wandering from one house to the next," she said. "The monthly salary is never more than 600 dirhams and I'm not entitled to any time off."

Bahja added that domestic work needs to be recognised. "We're human beings too, and we have rights."

Some workers are sceptical about the implementation of the future law. "Who can guarantee that the law will be enforced properly?" asked Salawa, 24. "I really hope things will change; at least we'll have a basis for demanding our rights."

In addition to the stiffer regulations, Moroccan authorities are also working to raise awareness about exploitation and child labour.

Since 2007, a programme called "Inqad" has addressed the realities of domestic work for young girls. According to the social development ministry, this programme has borne fruit; members of the public are beginning to speak up about the mistreatment of housekeepers.

Minister for Social Development Nouzha Skelli told Magharebia that the problem of child labour – particularly domestic work for young girls – is one of the government's top priorities. She said the problem has many related causes, including poverty and education.