Morocco’s long-running debate over permanent daylight saving time has resurfaced after the Kingdom’s Ombudsman Institution moved to notify government authorities of growing public complaints regarding the policy.
The development follows a formal complaint submitted by civil society activist Aziz El Kermat, who cited what he described as the harmful effects of the “extra hour” on education, public health and daily life, particularly in rural areas where students often travel to school before sunrise.
According to the complaint, the policy negatively affects students’ well-being, disrupts sleep patterns and undermines the broader public interest. In response, the Ombudsman Institution indicated it would bring the concerns to the attention of the head of government and the ministry responsible for digital transition and administrative reform.
Activists welcome intervention
Mohsen El Woudari, representative of the National Committee Behind the Legal Petition to Restore Morocco’s Standard Time, described the ombudsman’s involvement as an important constitutional step in addressing citizens’ grievances.
He said the institution’s response represents positive progress for opponents of the policy, many of whom have campaigned for years to abolish the year-round time shift.
El Woudari also accused political actors of using the issue for electoral purposes and criticized what he called a strategy of “buying time” rather than seriously engaging with public demands.
Petition campaign continues
Organizers of the campaign said the initial collection of petition signatures by regional and local coordinators began this week, with data currently being reviewed to ensure the legal threshold is met before the petition is formally submitted to the government.
Activists stressed that the signature drive remains ongoing in an effort to broaden public support and reinforce the legitimacy of demands to abolish the extra hour policy.
According to organizers, the primary objective is to use institutional and legal channels to challenge a measure they say negatively affects citizens’ everyday lives.
Concerns over health and safety
Abdelouahed Ziyat, president of the Moroccan Network for the Civil Alliance of Youth, also criticized the continued use of daylight saving time, arguing that it imposes significant social and health costs while delivering little tangible economic benefit.
He rejected government arguments that the policy generates economic gains, saying any financial benefits are outweighed by its impact on public health and daily living conditions.
Ziyat further argued that the policy contradicts Morocco’s broader “social state” agenda, which places citizens’ well-being at the center of public policy.
He highlighted the difficulties faced by students and workers in remote and mountainous areas during autumn and winter, when many are forced to travel in darkness under harsh weather conditions and with limited transportation options, exposing them to safety risks.
The activist called on the Ombudsman Institution to press the government to reconsider the policy, warning that continued adherence to the extra hour leaves authorities increasingly disconnected from public sentiment.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.