The Moroccan Parliament is set to deliberate on a long-overdue bill regulating the right to strike next week. This legislation, introduced by Employment Minister Younes Sekkouri, aims to establish clear guidelines on strike activities across the country.
The proposed bill includes several key provisions designed to bring order to labor disputes. Among these are the nullification of strikes that do not comply with the new regulations and a prohibition on political strikes.
Pre-strike negotiations between employers and employees are also provided for in this proposed legislation, which also requires mediation in the event of unresolved disputes. The 49-article bill also prohibits striking workers from blocking access to or occupying their workplace.
The government is pushing to have the bill passed by the end of 2024. However, the proposal has met with resistance from labor unions, who argue that the new regulations could undermine current workers’ rights.
The debate comes at a time when Morocco is witnessing widespread strikes by healthcare workers, with actions planned for Thursday and Friday, and a five-day strike set from July 15 to July 19 across several cities. These strikers are demanding the implementation of prior government commitments.