Morocco, labour unions resume talks
2009-03-16
As Moroccan Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi and labour leaders go back to the bargaining table, one official hints that the government will agree to a wage hike.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 16/03/09
 [Getty Images] The Moroccan government opens new dialogue with labour unions. |
The Moroccan government and labour unions returned to the negotiating table this week after breaking off talks last December. Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi convened the union representatives on Thursday (March 12th) to breathe new life into the negotiations over labour rights and employee compensation.
The unions relented after four institutions, the National Moroccan Workers' Union (UNTM), the Moroccan Workers' Organisation (ODT), the Democratic Workers' Federation (FDT), and the Moroccan Workers' Union (UMT), called Thursday for a national march on March 22nd, and threatened to boycott the upcoming union elections.
Following this decisive meeting, which came after two national strikes in the public service sector, the unions confirmed that the head of the government expressed his desire to move forward and find a resolution to the outstanding problems.
"The prime minister gave much reassurance, and promised to take a serious look at the issues that have been at the centre of the debate, particularly pay increases and union freedoms," said Miloudi Moukharik of the UMT general secretariat.
FDT Secretary-General Abderrahman Azzouzi confirmed that El Fassi was eager committed to ensure the dialogue's success. "He asked us to submit in writing all the grievances that have resulted in the dispute," he said.
The Prime Minister stressed the fact that the social dialogue has now been established and must not be broken.
"The unions have a responsibility to consider the perils of the current international economic situation when formulating their demands," stated Public Sector Modernisation Minister Mohamed Abbou.
Moukharik replied that during the next session of the dialogue, the government is expected to agree in principle to wage rises that could be brought in by 2010. "We need an undertaking at least for the years to come," he told Magharebia.
The next round of talks, set for the end of March, will cover the private sector. Already last year, the unions were dissatisfied at the weakness of the government proposals regarding the sector.
Unions pointed out that only the minimum guaranteed wage was increased by 5%, with other pay remaining unchanged. Moukharik explained that the government had committed itself to urging businesses to engage in dialogue with their employees about pay increases.
Yet "up to now, nothing's been done. What's more, a number of businesses haven't applied the 5% increase," he concluded.
Labour groups have also called for a reversal of the decision to deduct pay from the salaries of those who strike. Union members expect to be able to get the government to halt this measure. This last point will be on the agenda for the talks planned over the next few days.
The subject recently stirred up a major debate in Morocco. The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) had severely criticised the government's decision, even though the party is itself a part of the governing coalition and its ministers had voted in support of the decision at the governing council meeting. The USFP explained that the pay deductions have no legal basis.
"The unions could not tolerate the use of this kind of tactic to dissuade them from engaging in repeated strikes. However, it soon proved not to be working as a means of dissuading them, because the stoppages were widely observed, particularly within local authorities. The government will be forced to back down on this, particularly as the Labour Day holiday and local elections approach," said professor of political science Mohamed Bachiri.
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ABDELHADI Posted 2009-03-17
In the name of God. I would like to know the problem of retirement.
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2009-03-17
The Moroccan government is still listening to the concerns of workers and trade unions for the good of everyone. Dialogue is customary in great democracies, such as that of France, the USA and Morocco.
مجيد Posted 2009-03-17
The government of Abbas El Fassi is a severe experience endured by Moroccans. It refused to reduce prices of fuel even these have reached their lowest levels in the world market. Moreover, this is the first time Moroccans hear of deducting wages because of strike. The minister Ghellab did not hesitate to draw up a traffic law through which he wants to send drivers to prison and separating families. The minister Abbou did not hesitate to threaten public servants although it is public servants, drivers and all the classes of society who made these people reach decision-making positions. Now when the Socialist Union noticed that the game is not in their favour and that citizens has the authority of voting, they invented a war against Al Istiqlal party to release themselves from the mistakes although the ministers of the Union voter in favour of deducing wages and the traffic law…The are many mistakes. Silence is better because his story is registering and it has records.
هشام المسفيوي Posted 2009-03-18
Increasing wages is the essence of the dialog. The government justifies non commitment, the citizen is furious. The politician is bargaining about the naivety or ignorance of poor people (some workers and public servants on the list) endure high prices. Criminality is increasing it is compounded by need. God suffices us and He is the best protector.
قريش Posted 2009-03-18
If politics does nothing in the interest of the citizen, there is no need to be involved in it. Akrich Rachid, Rabat now, finds that the political act in itself is in a very serious position. This is because there are no sincere signs from the elements of the political game, between the politician and citizen. In view of the gap separating them on all sides, the political or democratic wishes will not be achieved in spite of the make-up or the politically activating Viagra pills… This is because many social problems haven’t found their way to a solution or alternative. So the preliminary summary is political apathy is not arbitrary. It is driven by conscience and the logic of the predecessors. The citizen who sees that the philosophy of the proximity policy is no more than temporary slogans and media blackout which does not carry out its intended objective. Since politics are useless in a progressing society, one of the results of this progress is pure political boycott. Let’s analyse the expression political consumption of fake and resounding slogans which the political elite want to defend fiercely and take the voices of people. But who will protect the powerless citizen consumer from the increase in the prices of his daily living in addition to the ban loans, economic housing which no longer carries out its meaning but it became in favour of money tycoons. Where is therefore the role of politics in protecting the poor citizen? If politics do nothing in the interest of the citizen, so there is no need to be involved in them.
khairat Posted 2009-03-19
Morocco, unfortunately, is ruled by the El Fassi family. Sorry, I said ruled- rather, it destroys it. El Fassi, his relatives and tribe control national decision-making. The name El Fassi is in all the ministries. These are the people who say that politics make people rich; if it doesn’t make you rich, it strengthens you, if doesn’t strengthen you it grants you long life. This is the example of Morocco. It is said that this was centuries ago, but it is still effective. However, ordinary people are involved in politics are called the base. Yes they are a base on whose shoulders El Fassi climb to reach the summit. Yasmina Badou is a lawyer who was appointed minister of health. She cannot even tell the difference between Betadine and insulin. She ignores the simplest procedures of nursing, much less medical care or surgery. This is the state of the government of Abbas El Fassi. Everything is going backwards… Enough.
عبدالحفيظ Posted 2009-03-20
Salam alikum. I think that the government treats us like kids. A lot of fuss was made around wages increase. But in the end we find just a few dirhams added. There is no power and no will but from God.
Driss E H Posted 2009-03-21
Our country is a paradise on earth, but those with bad consciences who are only looking out for their own gain are ruining it. We have everything we need in our country, but, honestly, we need a change of mentality for those who are fighting to stay in their position of power forever. No! No! There are people of good conscience who want to work for their Kingdom in complete faithfulness and to fight against those who only want to weaken the rest. We have noted many price hikes in foodstuffs without a single, slight pay raise to balance out the citizens’ lives. Where do they want this poor Moroccans to end up? -In a dead-end? If some people are happy thanks to this country, then it ought to be that way for everyone. Nothing should be halal for some and haram for others: that is illogical. Our government needs to return to reason and sit down with the various unions to do right by the damage that has been done to the lives of poor people and the simple citizens, both of whom are demanding only a life of peace and ease.
KORDASA ALI Posted 2009-03-22
The government and the national unions have agreed, it seems, to resolve the issues relating to the masses and toss human rights for the smaller minority - the state functionaries - into the trash. And this is even in spite of the latter having absolute priority in resolving their problems. I tell you that the unions and the government do not deal with issues professionally and democratically, but rather do so out of fear of the masses.
حمدانى حميد Posted 2009-03-22
Salam alikum. This is what we were expecting from the government of El Fassi, procrastination in dealing with the claims of workers, down with the government!
Naciri Abdellatif Posted 2009-03-24
This proposal is worth of the officials’, technicians’ and employees’ interest as it does nothing but strengthen their current rights and their rights as retirees. That said, it is desirable to give the aforementioned the right to consult their administrative files on a semi-annual basis (especially their disciplinary section), because we unfortunately sometimes find ourselves – after many years of service – dragging a heavy file full of surprises behind us. Such was my case, and it caused me to be transferred and receive a demotion. And, you can imagine that they gave no notice, no justification, no disciplinary memo; there was just one fake file folder full of lies of all sorts. Because of this, I would like to have an interview with a newspaper journalist and someone from the AMDH, because there is a lot to be said and this could be an example for many.
achemlal hassan Posted 2009-03-28
There is no help for retirees: our pensions are not increased and all that remains for us is to die. All we have is to just leave this country, which has not done a single favour for us since its independence.
مغربي مستاء من الحكومة Posted 2009-04-13
Have you seen what the Istiqlal party did of citizens? It wanted to retaliate from the people who voted for it and made it reach power. Karim Ghellab, who is only good at dancing, drew up a traffic code through which he wanted to send everyone who has a vehicle to prison. In this way he will cause many families to be homeless, make women widows, cause the starvation of families and make children orphans. Hasn’t Al Istiqlal party had enough as a result of the idiocy inflicted on the people from the famous procedure of Arabization of education? Now the dancer Ghellab wants to send people to prison through a code which was literally copied from Sweden. But he did not copy its roads, infrastructures, bridges or huge road achievements. He just copied the prison sentence and fines. Today transport strike enters its second week but the dancer Ghellab and his prime minister don’t care about the matter. There is no more fuel in any fuel stations. Gas bottles are over. The stocks of grain mills are empty. But the worst thing we heard is that bread distributors will join the strike as if we needed that. So sleep quietly and calmly our minister together with your prime minister. The protestation movement which will enter its second week doesn’t concern you in any way since you have personal stocks of grain, fuel, sugar and gas. Let the people dies Al Fassi Family. Thank you for your concern about the people.
manou prigr Posted 2009-04-15
(Morocco). If such a strike was held by drivers in any democratic country, the prime minister and minister of transport would have submitted their resignations. But in Morocco, you shouldn't be astonished. Karim Ghellab, the minister of transport, announced to the press that up to now, he didn't understand the grounds for this strike. If he was an idiot and didn't understand the causes, we will say to this stupid why... It is you who wanted to send people to prison. This item was in fact in your electoral campaign, bringing prison close to the citizen. Here you are implementing this item but you overlooked the item concerning providing jobs to the unemployed. Morocco has run out of everything: petrol, vegetables, sugar and flour. Despite this Ghellab Abdelkrim haven't understood yet why this strike? Exalted be God.
شبيه انسان 0 المغرب Posted 2009-04-22
There is congestion in Morocco. However, everyone is suffering in silence. The cause of this congestion is the tribe and family of Abbas El Fassi. They have spread despair in Morocco. Morocco is ruled by Abbas and his family who are now taking revenge harshly on Moroccans. Karim Ghellab, the minister of transport, has brought a code form Sweden. He wanted to implement it in the dilapidated roads of Morocco. Before bringing the code, he should have added new prisons or extended the capacity of existing prisons. The Swedish traffic code in Morocco says if you buy a car, you buy your prison sentence with your money even if the roads of Ghellab will be the cause. Fines are higher than the monthly wage of the citizen. Isn't this revenge? But the problem is that they are now running for the elections to win municipal seats. We will be the most stupid people in the world if we vote for them. We want their good while they want to send us to prison. Long live Morocco. Our motto which we will die for is “God, the nation and the king”.
said Posted 8 days ago
In the interest of all the Moroccan people and for changing these people's lives for the better in the future and for changing their constitutional rights, especially the right to employment, which has put people into a critical situation, including people have whatever profession, be they free or enslaved to anyone at all, the dignity of human beings must be placed above personal interests in order to move rights forward. Tell all the men of politics and economics that the world has truly changed. Social peace has a price to pay if we want to catch up.
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