Union slams draft strike law as 'restrictive,' calls for national mobilization

The Moroccan Labor Union (UMT) rejected the draft law on strikes, labeling it as restrictive, according to a statement released on Friday.

The UMT criticized the government for its handling of the proposed strike law, accusing Minister of Integration, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, and Employment, Younes Sekkouri, of undermining social dialogue.

The union demanded that the bill be immediately withdrawn from parliament and returned to the negotiating table for further social dialogue.

The labor body condemned the minister’s “superficial and deceptive” approach to social dialogue on the draft law, which was forwarded to parliament without concluding the discussions. 

The UMT warned the government against persisting in its allegedly undemocratic approach that undermines a fundamental human right.

The union called on the government to fully implement the provisions of the constitution and enact a fair and balanced organic law on the right to strike.

 The UMT said that it’s resolutely committed to opposing the current version of the bill, which it described as essentially unchanged from previous drafts.

The labor union urged all Moroccan workers, across all sectors and regions, to mobilize and prepare for all necessary struggles to halt what it called an attempt to undermine the right to strike, trade union freedoms, and social gains.

The UMT also called on political parties, trade unions, human rights associations, and civil society to unite in opposition to this attempt to curtail a fundamental constitutional and human right.

The proposed strike law, Organic Law No. 97.15, has sparked controversy between the government and labor unions. 

While the constitution guarantees the right to strike, the government’s draft seeks to establish specific guidelines for its exercise. 

Unions say that these regulations are overly restrictive and were formulated without sufficient input from labor representatives.

Key points of contention include the law’s requirements for strike timing, justification, and negotiation processes. 

The government says that these measures are necessary to balance workers’ rights with employers’ needs, preventing strikes from unduly disrupting businesses or public services. 

The unions say that these restrictions erode the constitutional right to strike, transforming it into a tool for limiting labor activism rather than empowering workers.