Welcome to this week’s edition of our Weekly Risk Watch, offering insights into economic indicators, political shifts, and security updates that could impact your business or daily life, all in one concise package.
Political Stability
- The Economic, Social, and Environmental Council met on August 22 with trade unionists to review draft law No. 97.15 on strike regulations, prompted by a House of Representatives request, with unions arguing the law infringes on workers’ rights, potentially escalating labor unrest.
- Frustrations are growing in the National Council of the Istiqlal Party over Secretary-General Nizar Baraka’s delay in presenting the Executive Committee membership list, pending since April and risking internal division and government positioning ahead of a potential September government reshuffle.
- Residents of the Sidi Bibi commune in Souss-Massa region protested on August 22 against what they claim is the forced registration of their ancestral lands by the Ministry of the Interior, with accusations of constitutional of land grab.
- Moroccan citizens protested in front of the Spanish consulate in Casablanca, denouncing delays and alleged broker monopolies in securing travel visa appointments, which they claim are being sold at high prices and complicating family reunions.
- Residents of Ola Bohkou in Tinghir province are facing a severe water crisis, relying on local wells instead of a potable water network, and are urging regional authorities to connect their area to the network, warning of potential protests if their demands are not addressed.
Economy and Markets
- The General Inspectorate of Finance has swiftly investigated mismanagement of “service orders” in public contracts, which led to financial losses for public institutions and enterprises due to disputes with private companies over unpaid dues and unmet administrative requirements.
- The “bonds de commande” issue has sparked protests among very small enterprises in northern Morocco, as larger competitors dominate purchase orders above 200,000 dirhams, with efforts underway to propose a regional quota of 250,000 to 300,000 dirhams for local companies in the 2025 Finance Bill.
- Abdelouafi Laftit, Minister of the Interior, has instructed regional and provincial governors to facilitate and support investors to boost local development and job creation, mandating that building permits be issued without tying them to debt collection.
- The Exchange Office’s vigilance services have uncovered suspicious manual currency exchanges involving African immigrants, leading to an investigation into a network smuggling money from Morocco to sub-Saharan Africa.
- Amid rising chicken prices in Moroccan markets, escalating accusations between breeders and incubator owners over high chick prices, now reportedly at 11 dirhams, further impacting consumer purchasing power.
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