Morocco’s nursing professionals are gearing up to escalat protests in upcoming days, as the Ministry of Health and Social Protection’s procrastination and delay in implementing the promises made in the latest meeting regarding compensation and salary increases.
Furious at their current situation, the National Coordination of Students, Graduates, and Nurses of Higher Institutes of Nursing and Health Techniques has announced a series of escalating protests.
The coordination declared their intention to stage local protests with a nationwide scope on February 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, along with localized sit-ins depending on each city.
It additionally announced a nationwide sit-in scheduled for March 2nd in Rabat, directly in front of the parliament dome, as well as a candlelit march in several cities planned for March 28th in the evening, traversing public streets.
Pay equity:
“Despite a promised MAD 1500 raise for nurses and technicians, there is ambiguity regarding the details of disbursement,” explained Said El Karmoudi, a member of the National Media Committee, in a statement to Hespress EN.
There is uncertainty regarding its final approval from the government or disbursement, highlighted El Karmoudi, adding that nursing professionals were expecting their response by late January.
“Questions remain regarding the installment structure and timing of disbursement (2024 or 2025). We urge the government to initiate disbursement at the earliest, preferably by the beginning of 2024,” further explained the member of the coordination.
Compensation for hospital training:
El Karmoudi highlighted that while the agreement acknowledged the compensation for hospital training for nursing students, unfortunately, it was linked to the implementation of the regional health group.
“This conditional clause seems to be for the purpose of procrastination and not implementing it,” believes the same speaker, adding that they “do not know when the final implementation of the regional health group will be in all regions.”
He also emphasized that nursing students of the Higher Institute want to receive consistent compensation for hospital training “on a monthly basis” rather than being “tied to completed tasks.”
Contracting policy and privatization of the sector:
The same speaker expressed concerns regarding the ambiguity surrounding the contracting clause even if the Minister of Health mentioned, he said, that this policy does not concern nurses and health technicians but rather other categories.
He also denounced the privatization of the health sector through the announcement of a series of job contract offers to integrate nurses and health technicians.
“This violates Law 43 13, as this job can only be held by graduates from recognized institutes or universities,” explained El Karmoudi.
He underscored that nursing professionals categorically reject the contractual policy as it affects financial positions to be offered to graduate students next year.
“It will harm the quality of healthcare services provided to Moroccan citizens,” he added, believing that students from private institutes lack inadequate training for this job position.
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