Moroccan transport unions intensify protests against proposed regulations
2009-04-07
Unions in Morocco threaten national work stoppages, objecting to stipulations of the road laws currently being reviewed in Parliament.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 07/04/09
 [Sarah Touahri] Moroccan labour unions strike against high road fines. |
Transport unions in Morocco are stepping up their protests over provisions of traffic laws currently under discussion in the Chamber of Councillors. Workers held a strike on Monday (April 6th), disrupting everyday life for the third time in recent weeks, after a stoppage on March 12th and a sit-in on March 16th outside the parliament building.
Travellers had no choice but to grin and bear it. Many had difficulty getting to work, and called for an urgent solution between the government and the professionals so that the protests could end.
Drivers of lorries and of large and small taxis belonging to a number of unions such as the FDT, UNTM, ODT, and CDT took part in Monday's walkout. They were protesting the proposed custodial sentences and the size of the fines, even though the chamber of representatives had already introduced a number of amendments.
Representatives reduced allowable fines to 400, 600 or 900 dirhams, whereas previously the fines ranged up to 3,000 dirhams. Professionals in the industry want to see further reductions.
"Drivers earn between 30 and 60 dirhams a day. How could they possibly manage the exorbitant amounts in the draft road laws? Even with the present 400 dirhams, workers suffer," said ODT transport union General Secretary Khalid Idrissi.
Meanwhile, custodial sentences have been removed from the Highway Code, but those stipulated in the Penal Code remain in place. This provision has been rejected by the unions. According to the transport ministry, these penalties would apply if an accident involved a driver under the influence of alcohol, or driving at excessive speed, causing death or debilitating injuries.
The secretary-general of the UNTM transport union, Noureddine Mouharrir, stressed that communication is one of the professionals' top priorities in order to arrive at a law that will keep both sides happy.
Trades unionists have even threatened to organise a national march if the government does not respond to their grievances. A date has yet to be set for this event.
Professionals are indeed keen to bring pressure to bear on the government and MPs in the chamber of councillors to encourage them to make changes to the bill.
Economist Bouchra Hanine explained to Magharebia that the cost of a national march in the transport sector would be too huge to calculate. She stated that such a move would cause disruption, preventing employees from getting to work and affecting trade relations and financial transactions.
"A walk-out would cause a significant reduction in activity and weaken the whole economy," she said.
The public are fearful of the threats of further stoppages. Indeed, many of them use public transport and are completely thwarted when it goes on strike. "I use four taxis every day to get to work. When there's a strike I have to stay at home," said Hiba Rehmouni.
Siham Nafali, a student, hopes the national march will not take place at a weekend, because she catches a coach every week to visit her family in El Jadida. "I hope the government and the unions will reach an agreement so that transport isn't disrupted," she commented.
Transportation Minister Karim Ghellab said the government has stuck to the agreements, which it reached with workers in the transport sector. He explained that the protest movement is based on professionals' preconceptions about the bill, which "has undergone several modifications".
When the bill was last laid before the chamber of representatives, the government approved the introduction of 287 amendments, including the removal of custodial sentences.
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acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2009-04-07
Morocco is a country of democracy. We have the right to strike and to work. Morocco’s constitution guarantees all of the citizens’ rights. But, I believe that this new law (the proposed regulations) are a bit extreme and will open wide the door to corruption and allow for inflammatory fines. I also think that the Minister of Transport must first of all resolve the problem with the state of the roadways and, if it is necessary, rig cameras to record all police interaction on the roadways in order to prevent corruption. I think that we are not yet ready for such regulations. We need to first of all establish a solid foundation of awareness before embarking on and applying the proposed new regulations. Likewise, Morocco’s unions are too extreme with their strikes, destabilising the labour market and discouraging investors. So, I have some advice for the government and unions alike: have some good sense and think about Morocco’s interests instead of your personal interests. –Signed, Acharif Moulay Abdellah Bouskraoui
حسن مناش بنعلي Posted 2009-04-08
The successive Moroccan governments have completed selling public properties including land and institutions. They have sold the lands of Sodia and Sogeta. They have sold the main communication institution to companies. It has ceded through brokerage seas and rivers. Health facilities are paralyzed as a result of the shortage in medicines. It has one resource left which it must exploit: sell or privatize educational institutes. It has another resource, it is the pockets of citizens and depleting them through taxes and fines. It has the right to do this because investing in the people is an nonperishable wealth. There is just a problem with how to invest it. This will be done by adopting traffic laws in every crisis to vent the economy and coerce citizens to implement the provisions of every new law without noticing that one of the major causes in the increase of accidents is the prevalence of alcohol. It is said that in 70% of accidents the cause is whiskey. This rate which seems high is known only by doctors and nurses who face difficulties in anesthetizing the drunken in order to treat or operate them. The second cause is the badness of roads which are filled with holes and bumps. There is also the factor of speed. It is usually caused by the sons of influential and rich people. The victims are the poor. Other causes of accidents are secondary and without effect.
souleimane Posted 2009-04-09
In my opinion, this strike is unjustified. Transport workers must have something worthy of reproach if they are so afraid of the proposed regulations. The fines are designed for those who break said regulations. Given the unsafe state of the roadways, we need some punitive measures to get people to respect the traffic laws.
BEN Posted 2009-04-09
The citizens are suffering from the strike as well as the black-market transportation, which a few unscrupulous transporters set up during this strike to charge prohibitive fees for “trapped” travellers. We spend the night on the road, but still miss work the next day. In the end, the citizens are the ones being taken hostage. But, who cares?
elghazouani Posted 2009-04-10
An Open Letter to Mr So-and-So- Morocco’s proposed traffic law, which is angering professional drivers, is not a solution. “We are perfectly aware of the seriousness of traffic accidents,” and we are all involved in and responsible for what happens. However, is creating laws or importing them from abroad enough to put an end to this? What of the difficulties taxi, truck and bus drives face on the part of the state of road and traffic conditions? Do not skip a step. Forget about restrictive laws, reprimands and fines – the country needs infrastructure. City streets are all in disrepair and need not just patching, but fixing. Most of the inter-city roads are very narrow. They need to be widened to match these new laws. We need to force taxi drivers to use vehicles less than five years old and truck drivers to less than 15 under penalty of their license being revoked and the vehicle no longer being authorised on public roadways.
Grant Posted 2009-04-10
Strangely now that the Unions are on strike, once again, here in a protest that is to stretch this entire weekend I feel unbothered. Perhaps its just me, but the decrees in traffic, noisy/polluting vehicles, and constant feeling of being on the move has alowed me to walk around the city here an truly appreciate it.Not only am I enjoying the outdoors by walking to my destinations, but without any available means of traveling it has forced me to take a step back and relax. Certainly I had planned on traveling this weekend to explore what this country has to offer, but when its not possible to leave things become out of ones control and forces a step back. Now to this article. What is really the problem here? Most places I've been to in this world, cab and bus drivers have a license as it is their job and generally are reluctant to break the law as it could jeopardize it. For drivers here to go on strike in response to fines from breaking the law is ridiculous. Sure its one thing if police officers are singling them out for fines, but from every ride I've taken in public transportation here I can say that, quite frankly, they drive like madmen! Every passed car, blind intersection, or excessive speeding incidence seems to leave me either praying for my life or wishing there was a police checkpoint that would nail the driver for driving like an idiot and endangering the lives of the people in the cab. I can't speak for buses as usually they tend to be a fixed rate, but the grand taxi drivers here are all extortionists that will try to extract every dihram they can from you. Perhaps a better solution here is to invest in the Public Transportation System, and revamp the vehicles, driver qualifications, and ensured equal traffic laws.
ELfarri Posted 2009-04-11
Yep in europe before protesting ,they try to discuses and work out problems , but in morocco we start with protests . The only solution for Taxi drivers will be privatizing the sector and learn from country like Sweden, norway and denmark. they have managed to combine quality of work and salaries. i just think that morocco both government and people have to believe at private sectors more . government can not handle expenses of 30 millions,.
عبد الجبار Posted 2009-04-12
We all agree with this strike.
rtini omar Posted 2009-04-12
I am a teacher. My only means of going to work every day is in a shared taxi. I travel 37 kilometres from Safi to Tnine Laghiate. I have been stuck for three days now because of this anarchist strike on the part of some drivers who do not respect other people who are not participating in this movement. The right to strike is legitimate, but attacking non-strikers is a barbarous act.
المختار Posted 2009-04-13
We don’t need laws as much as we need the implementation of laws in an equal way to everyone. We don’t need laws as much as we need the implementation of laws in an equal way to everyone. We don’t need laws as much as we need the implementation of laws in an equal way to everyone.
houda Posted 2009-04-13
I think that the strike is far from being unjustified. Transporters have the right to strike and they even have the right to attack non-strikers, but only in a moral way that does not lead to material or personal loss. How are the strikers going to earn their livings during this strike? It is practically necessary that we think about the families of the drivers who are living below the poverty line. If something needs to be done, then it is first and foremost up to the government, which must open up a dialogue [with the drivers] and do away with the new regulations. We are the ones who are suffering from all of this and definitely not the people with vehicles who do not even know about what is going on in the buses or about the disaster it is to take a taxi just to get to school or work. So what then?
الفقيه بن صالح Posted 2009-04-13
These people are getting mad. People are working rapidly. Appoint fair police officers and gendarmes, curse it, in every road point. Ghellab should go take the cover, he has (unclear) the servants of God, with politics.
kamal Posted 2009-04-13
There is no power and no will but from God.
عبد Posted 2009-04-13
Every beginning has an end. A solution should be reached to solve this crisis. But who will be accountable for the millions which are lost during the period of strikes?
Paul Posted 2009-04-13
Everyone has a right to protest, but in the right circumstances. Striking taxi drivers trying to bring the country to it's knees is indicative of the irresponsible attitudes and complete disregard which the ordinary people of Morocco continue to display to tourists nationwide daily. In my experience, this strike action won't last for too long. Firstly, they may start off with wide public support, but this will reduce considerably soon when the public decide that they have had enough of not being able to travel around. Secondly, the drivers will soon realise that they have to feed their families, and for that, they have to go to work. Once the Taxi drivers realise that they are biting the hand that feeds with this protest AND with extortion rates which they now think they can charge tourists, that is when they will realise that they are in the wrong and the government is trying to bring order to these taxi drivers who think they are above the law.
ابو حمزة Posted 2009-04-14
A traffic code implemented in Sweden to be applied in Morocco, this beggars belief. So if Mr the minister is convinced by it, let him go and live there as he has no place among us. He was unable to manage the ministry in a proper way. He made a fuss with his code. Citizens have been waiting for grey registration cards for over ten months. Is this the proper measure?
younes J Posted 2009-04-15
the new rule no one will be affected just us but i'm talking about the poor category which is alot so the person who think he is trying to amend that why he did not get the street fixed & stop the bribes if every1 cross his limit should be fine by pay an amount of moeny to stop speed or even cross the red light but noway they ask for money bribe instead of pay the fee also we haven't got streets or even passage way half of person walk in middle of street so i think the person who set the new rule he never visited poor places in morocco but just hotels not ghetto so the clever man thought the new rule will put an end to the disaster it happens before but the core of the problem it's the road sign , street and highway then bribe no one has mention to difficulties we suffer from agadir to marakkech do u know that our highway looks like railway i don't know why the government can't distinguish between morocco and europe we not them and they are not us we wont be like them so stop mimic them we got to act our selves we got to stop the bribe so i got one question to the person who thought he cure the problem have u ever bribe a police man in europe ? noway so if u want from drivers respect the rules go find out honest police who would respect the uniform half of them or i am afraid to say the majority getting bribes so don't argue with me about that why u try to harm poor ppl go onto police stations see what happen there go to court look how they fake the sentences some monsters with no hearts with death consciences they ruined this country they make us hate our selves shame on u see i'm poor i can see thing simply . here if u did not give bribe in hall town u wont get ur birth certificate isn't funny the bribe invaded their body so i explained the core of issue thanks
khadija Posted 2009-04-15
Salam- I support the strike in the transportation sector because I think that certain articles of these proposed regulations – particularly the amounts to be paid in fines – are extreme. How can a driver, whose salary is no more than 2,000 dirhams, deal with these fines? Moreover, the penalties that restrict drivers from their rights to drive should usually only be applied in cases of driving under the influence, excessive speeding and vehicular homicide. Moreover, I think the new regulations did not fully appreciate the pitiful state of the roads in Morocco. The minister needs to first of all prepare some suitable grounds for his Platonic project.
طارق مشة Posted 2009-04-15
This strike concerns all owners of transport means. It is not just limited to drivers. It is considered the first strong strike known by Morocco democratically. It has reflected the inability of the government as it forgot the miserable situation of Moroccan families, their low incomes, the prevalence of unemployment in Morocco and the deterioration of the crisis except for the social feelings of Moroccans among families. Since the parliament represents the people, it should respond to the will of the people and abandon the traffic code far from the logic of the triumphant. I also hope that civil society acts like unions in protests, demonstrates democratically and peacefully in the face of high prices. I hope that you will also assist Morocco against every bill which doesn't serve the people.
ابو ا نس بر شيد Posted 2009-04-15
The minister, author of the new traffic law, wants through this code that no one rivals him on the road so that he wouldn't fall in the bumps across the roads of the kingdom and damage his luxurious car. He looks at Morocco as if it were his personal farm and no one has the right to share it with him.
PAULA JIM Posted 2009-04-15
I AM MARRIED TO A MORROCAN SO I TRAVEL THERE ALOT, I BEG TO DIFFER. THESES TAXIS HAVE IT HARD AS IT IS, YET ALONE THE PAYING OF BRIBES. I HAVE WITNESS MANY A TIME PEOPLE PAYING POLICE OVER SMALL THINGS. ITS DISGUSTING WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DO TO SURVIVE IN SUCH POOR CONDITIONS OF LIFE.THERE ISNT A SAFE PLACE TO WALK. NO PAVEMENTS CAN U BLAME PEOPLE FOR WALKING IN ROAD. NO MOTORBIKE OR CYCLE LANES TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR PEOPLE. WITH OUT THESE TAXIS TRANSPORTING AROUND WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT ALSO AS IT IS NOT EVEN THE BUSES RUN REGULAR YET ALONE SAFE. IF THEY WANT TO STOP PEOPLE WALKING IN ROADS MAKE IT SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC AD WELL AS DRIVERS.ALSO IF THE COURTS DID THERE JOB PROPERLY AND MADE ALL DRIVERS PAY INSURENCE TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS ON THE ROADS AS WELL AS PAY ROAD TAX THIS MONEY COULD BE USED TO REPAIR ROADS AND MAKE IT SAFER FOR THE PUBLIC ALSO BRING IN PENLTY POINTS FOR THOSE THAT ABUSE THE HIGH WAY CODE AND BAN DRIVERS WHEN THEY REACH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF POINTS BRING IN DVLA AGENCY LIKE WE HAVE IN BRITIAN IT WOULD SOON PREVENT ALL THIS HASSLE AND GRIFE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO EARN A HONEST WAGE.
nounou Posted 2009-04-16
Salam. If they implement this traffic code in Morocco, everyone must be sure that anyone who drives will go to prison, God willing. Moroccans will have criminal records and will become a joke to the world.
عبدالعظيم Posted 2009-04-16
This strike will first affect grocers as well as all Moroccan citizens given that small and big taxis in addition to all transportation means play an important role in the life of citizens. The work of these drivers is their source of living. This strike is positive in terms of its effects on the traffic code but it is negative for their source of living. This is Abdeladim Boukram.
mounsif Posted 2009-04-18
Mounsif. I talk about the Moroccan traffic code. I say succinctly to the minister Mr Karim, before implementing your code, you should first consider the state of roads; the attitude of the police towards citizens and the mentality of the people. There is no power and no will but from God.
SIM SIM Posted 2009-04-19
I have no problem with the new Traffic law as long as the price of a "coffee" offered to the jadarmia and the police to talk them out of any penalty remains the same 10 Dh if you drive a fiat uno 20 Dhs if you drive a Truck and 5O Dhs or even 100 Dhs if you drive with foreign numberplates or a merc which is only fair.
AHMED SEVERIGHT Posted 2009-04-19
We all agree on the right to strike, but when this affects our security, public order, civilian activities (work), the country’s economy, striking is illegal. It is unacceptable that a gang of transporters that has mafia morals and was trained by the dubious union, would break the law and bring the government to its knees in order to dictate their will. What about the right of pedestrians, which go unnoticed? What can be said about these delinquent transporters? They are criminals who are blinding us with their headlights and forcing us into ditches at night! We know that Morocco’s roads are the most deadly in the world. No one has the right to be above the laws in effect. All Moroccans, civil society included, need to get involved in these proposed regulations. As for the state, it also needs to make more of an effort to build, repair, and maintain the roads in all the provinces. It needs to reanalyse the transport of goods in all its aspects and take account for the respect of the environment, the cost of fuel, on which we are all dependent. It is also up to the state to educate and inform drivers (even in the mosque) of proper behaviour for citizens on the roads and offer them rewards. Morocco also need to declare it criminal to drive drunk or under the influence of drugs. One more note: the gendarmes and patrol officers need to be better paid so they stop ripping us off on the roads like pirates.
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