Morocco’s largest labor union is calling on the government to suspend a recently adopted strike law after the International Court of Justice issued an opinion supporting the right to strike under international labor rules.
The Moroccan Labor Union said the advisory opinion, released last week, strengthens the case against Morocco’s Law 97.15, which unions say places significant restrictions on workers seeking to strike.
In a statement, the union described the ICJ opinion as a “historic victory” for workers and labor movements worldwide, including in Morocco.
The court, based in The Hague, ruled by a majority of 10 judges to four that the right to strike is implicitly protected under Convention 87 of the International Labour Organization, which guarantees freedom of association for workers and trade unions.
The union argued that the opinion establishes an international legal benchmark that governments cannot ignore by introducing national laws that weaken labor rights.
The debate comes only weeks after Morocco approved the controversial law regulating strikes. Labor groups have strongly opposed the legislation, saying it introduces complex procedures and punitive measures that make legal strikes more difficult.
According to the union, the law undermines the fundamental meaning of the right to strike by imposing what it called excessive and restrictive conditions on workers and unions before they can organize labor action.
The organization also warned that keeping the law in force could expose Morocco to international criticism over workers’ rights and freedoms protected under global labor agreements.
The government has defended the legislation in recent months, arguing that strikes require clearer rules to avoid disruptions in public services and key sectors of the economy. However, unions insist the law was designed primarily to curb labor protests rather than regulate them fairly.
The Moroccan Labor Union renewed its call for the government to suspend implementation of Law 97.15 and reopen negotiations with trade unions to draft a revised version.
It said any future legislation should comply with international labor conventions and the ICJ opinion.
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