Rabat – The Moroccan government has agreed to major changes in the draft strike law following discussions with unions and employers on Friday.
One of the main amendments is reducing the notice period for private sector strikes from 10 days to 7 days. The decision was made during a meeting of the Education, Cultural, and Social Affairs Committee in the House of Councillors yesterday. However, opinions are still divided among labor unions, employers, and lawmakers.
The government also introduced a revised definition of strikes, stating that a strike is “any temporary work stoppage, either fully or partially, decided by the calling entity and carried out by a group of workers in their direct or indirect relationship with a company, institution, or public service, or by a group of professionals, in defense of a right or a social, economic, professional, or moral interest related to working conditions or the practice of a profession.”
This new definition allows for solidarity strikes, even when the workers involved are not directly linked to the employer. Unions welcomed this as an important achievement.
Another change in the draft law is a reduction in the minimum services that must be maintained during a strike. Under the new version, these services are limited to those affecting citizens’ lives, safety, health, and security.
In addition, the government accepted a proposal from the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) to remove the word “outsourcing” from Article 9. This means that certain activities may continue during a strike, as long as the striking workers are not replaced by individuals who have no legal connection to the company.
No pay for striking workers
The government rejected a proposal to remove the “no work, no pay” rule. The final version of Article 6 states that “any worker participating in a strike is considered to be in a temporary work stoppage and will not receive wages for the duration of the strike.”
Unions strongly opposed this decision, arguing that it unfairly punishes striking workers. However, the government defended its position, stating that courts would resolve disputes regarding compensation.
