Mustafa Baitas, the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Relations with Parliament and the government spokesperson, confirmed that social dialogue today represents a fundamental pillar of government policy. He emphasized that the current government has turned it into a genuine tool for addressing outstanding demands that have lingered for years and expanding the scope of social rights for employees.
During the weekly press conference that followed the government meeting, Baitas revealed figures he described as “unprecedented” in the history of social dialogues, both in terms of their financial cost and the number of beneficiaries.
The government official explained that the cumulative cost of social dialogue is expected to reach 45.738 billion dirhams by 2026, rising to 46.702 billion dirhams in 2027, compared to what was discussed in previous dialogues, which did not exceed 14 billion dirhams at best.
Baitas noted that these figures do not include an additional 2 billion dirhams spent in 2022 to settle delays in the promotions of teachers, in response to the demands of the education workforce; which reflects, according to him, the seriousness of the government in resolving outstanding issues.
The government spokesperson asserted that these measures concern more than 1,127,000 employees, which practically means a direct impact on millions of Moroccan families. He added that social dialogue is no longer just a formal framework for discussion; it has become a real mechanism for making social decisions.
He revealed that the salaries of employees, which stood at around 140 billion dirhams in 2021, will reach 193 billion dirhams by 2026, representing an increase of nearly 40.12 percent, amounting to 11 percent of the gross domestic product; which reflects, as he said, the government’s commitment to investing in human capital.
Regarding salaries, Baitas clarified that the average monthly net salary has risen from 8,237 dirhams in 2021 to an expected 10,100 dirhams in 2026, with an estimated increase of 22.6 percent. The minimum wage in public service will also be raised from 3,000 dirhams to 4,500 dirhams starting July 1, exceeding a 50 percent increase.
The government spokesperson highlighted the achievements since the agreement of April 30, 2022, including raising the minimum wage, revising the income tax in favor of low-income earners, abolishing Grade 7 for employees, increasing the promotion quota to 36 percent, raising family allowances, and establishing social institutions to support workers in various sectors.
The minister did not overlook mentioning that since its appointment, the government has made social dialogue a framework for discussing major reforms in prioritized areas, particularly education and health, stressing that the measures taken in these sectors have been within a participatory approach with trade union actors.
In an indirect response to some criticisms, Baitas emphasized that the government does not need extensive rhetoric to defend its performance in the area of social dialogue; it suffices to look at the material cost of the measures, the volume of issues resolved, and the commitment to social dialogue meetings held twice a year with unions and social partners to realize the extent of the work accomplished.
The minister concluded by affirming that the government is “aware of the importance of involving trade union federations in shaping various reforms,” and that its engagement in social dialogue is part of a vision for “joint reform.”
