In statements to the press on the sidelines of the government’s consultative meetings with the most representative trade union centers and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), chaired by the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Younes Sekkouri, representatives of unions and employers stressed the importance of the right to strike being the subject of discussions and a “serious and serious” societal dialogue. constructive”.
In this regard, Said Khairallah, member of the national secretariat of the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT), noted that the negotiations on this organic bill are at an advanced stage, expressing the desire of the UMT to adhere, alongside other partners, to a negotiation methodology guaranteeing the exercise of the right to strike in order to achieve a “historic consensus”.
Mr. Khairallah underlined the willingness of the UMT to interact with the proposals related to this project, the aim being to achieve a law capable of strengthening the field of human rights in Morocco, in accordance with ratified international conventions. by the Kingdom, noting, however, divergences on certain points which are currently being studied.
Welcoming the method followed by the government in handling the social dialogue issue, the union official welcomed the existence of a common will to achieve a consensual law, stressing that the UMT rejects any draft law restricting the right to strike, guaranteed by the Moroccan Constitution.
Younes Ferachin, member of the executive office of the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), for his part, stressed that this organic bill must be the subject of a societal debate and a consensus between all parties concerned. .
He reiterated the position of the CDT for which the right to strike remains inseparable from the right to organize and, therefore, trade union freedoms must be respected, including the right to strike, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and international conventions.
For his part, Youssef Allakouch, member of the executive office of the General Union of Workers of Morocco, affirmed that the UGTM is attached to social dialogue as an appropriate and natural framework for debating legislation relating to labor, including the draft organic law on the exercise of the right to strike.
He indicated that a number of proposals presented by the UGTM were approved today, believing that the law must guarantee the right to strike and a balance between rights and obligations while taking into account the general interest of the working class, without providing for custodial sentences.
The trade unionist said he was optimistic about reaching an agreement that serves both the economic interests of the Kingdom and those of the working class.
The president of the CGEM Social Commission, Hicham Zouanate, noted, in turn, that this organic bill is “on the right track”, especially since this text was negotiated with all the social partners, qualifying the outcome of the current consultations as “very positive” and that an important milestone has been reached in this direction.
He also welcomed the opinion given by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council on this organic bill which he described as “balanced”.
These consultative meetings aim to debate the main themes linked to the constitutional framework of the organic bill establishing the conditions and modalities for exercising the right to strike, the approach to human rights and respect for the rights of strikers.