Moroccan trade unions reject strike law, call for national protest

Several trade unions in Morocco have voiced strong opposition to the proposed strike law, announcing a nationwide strike on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, in protest against the government’s decision to push the legislation forward.

During a press conference held Monday at the headquarters of the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT) in Casablanca, union representatives accused the government of introducing restrictive laws aimed at suppressing freedoms, particularly the historic right to strike.

Younes Firachine, a member of the CDT’s executive bureau, criticized the government for attempting to regulate strike actions in a way that effectively bans them. “Unfortunately, the government has worked hard to criminalize strikes instead of listening to the demands of the street and the arguments presented by labor unions and advisors,” he said.

Firachine further accused the government of attacking workers’ rights, disregarding recent mass protests, and prioritizing business interests over the needs of the working class. “We cannot remain idle,” he stated, emphasizing that the upcoming strike is a warning and that escalation will follow if the government does not reconsider its stance.

Ali Lotfi, Secretary-General of the Democratic Labor Organization (ODT), echoed these concerns. He pointed out that while the government withdrew certain legislative proposals for revision, it has aggressively defended the strike law, originally drafted in 2016. “This proposed law is full of loopholes. Corruption is what drives investors away, not strikes,” Lotfi argued, calling for the law’s withdrawal and a return to dialogue with unions.

Mohamed Zouiten, a representative of the National Union of Labor in Morocco (UNTM), criticized the government for unilaterally drafting the bill without honoring agreements with trade unions. He noted that the government ignored union proposals and rejected amendments submitted to the House of Councillors. “The definition of a strike in this bill is narrow and excludes many categories of workers,” Zouiten added.

Scientific El Houir, Deputy Secretary-General of the CDT, went further, warning of a broader issue: “The marriage of wealth and political power is a real problem. There is a class war targeting citizens by eroding their purchasing power.” He accused the government of attempting to weaken the labor movement to facilitate the passage of other controversial laws that could infringe on citizens’ rights.

Responding to concerns about the absence of certain unions, such as the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM) affiliated with the Istiqlal Party, El Houir dismissed any notion of division among trade unions. He asserted that while some organizations have chosen their own approach, others remain committed to unified action. “As a coordinating body, we are determined to maintain field-based union unity and expand the labor front,” he stated.

The CDT, ODT, UNTM, and the Federation of Democratic Trade Unions (FSD) have jointly called for a general national strike on February 5, 2025, to pressure the government into withdrawing the controversial strike law and engaging in meaningful dialogue with labor representatives.