As summer temperatures continue to climb across Morocco, concerns are mounting over the working conditions of thousands of employees, particularly those laboring on construction sites and in other outdoor workplaces.
At the center of those concerns is heat stress, which labor unions say has become a growing occupational hazard threatening the health and safety of workers exposed to extreme temperatures.
Moroccan labor organizations are calling on the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills to adopt urgent legislative and regulatory measures to address the issue. They are urging authorities to adapt working conditions to the country’s changing climate, strengthen inspections to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety standards, and encourage employers to embrace the principles of “socially responsible businesses.”
Ali Lotfi, secretary-general of the Democratic Organization of Labor (ODT), warned that large numbers of Moroccan workers are being exposed to dangerous levels of heat every summer.
“The ministry must adopt an emergency plan to address this phenomenon and protect workers, particularly in key sectors and outdoor worksites,” Lotfi told Hespress.
He said working under extreme temperatures poses serious health risks that can, in some cases, prove fatal. He cited International Labour Organization conventions on occupational safety and health, including Conventions No. 155 and No. 161, which call for continuous monitoring of workplace conditions and adapting work environments to workers’ physical and health needs.
Lotfi urged authorities to introduce practical seasonal measures, including suspending work at outdoor construction sites during peak heat hours, especially when temperatures exceed 40 to 45 degrees Celsius, particularly in areas with high humidity. He said such measures are essential to protect construction workers, agricultural laborers, and sanitation workers.
He also called for amendments to Morocco’s Labor Code to explicitly recognize heat stress and heatstroke as occupational injuries or diseases, allowing affected workers to receive compensation and appropriate medical care.
According to Lotfi, heat stress has become one of the most significant occupational risks linked to climate change. He said the ministry and labor inspectors should require employers to activate workplace health and safety committees, provide access to drinking water, shaded rest areas, personal protective equipment, and emergency response measures.
Mustapha Merizq, secretary-general of the Federation of Democratic Trade Unions (FSD), said Morocco’s social dialogue has largely overlooked the legal and health challenges facing outdoor workers.
He argued that the Labor Code still lacks clear provisions protecting construction workers and road crews from heat-related risks during the summer months.
Merizq said allowing employees to work under direct sunlight during peak afternoon hours, generally between noon and 2 p.m., poses a serious threat to their health and safety and requires legislative action.
He advocated more flexible working schedules that prioritize occupational health, pointing to practices adopted in several European countries and traditional work patterns in Morocco’s agricultural sector. Those approaches include suspending work during the hottest part of the day and, where feasible, shifting activities to nighttime using modern lighting systems.
Merizq also criticized what he described as the lack of a “socially responsible business” culture among many public works contractors, arguing that the pursuit of profit and project deadlines often takes precedence over workers’ rights and safety.
He said the government bears primary responsibility for addressing the issue by introducing binding legal provisions regulating summer working conditions while strengthening labor inspections to ensure compliance and hold violators accountable.
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