On Tuesday, the social dialogue round of April commenced in Rabat, chaired by Aziz Akhannouch, the Head of Government, as part of the ongoing effort to strengthen tripartite dialogue among the government, labor unions, and the General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco, aimed at addressing various social and economic issues concerning Moroccan workers.
According to a statement from the Head of Government’s office, several members of the executive body attended this round, including Nadia Fettah, Minister of Economy and Finance; Younes Skouri, Minister of Economic Integration, Small Enterprises, Employment and Skills; Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget; Mustapha Baitas, Minister Delegate in charge of Relations with Parliament and Government Spokesman; and Amal Filah, Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform.
The round featured various fruitful meetings led by Akhannouch with different social partners, starting with a meeting with a delegation from the Moroccan Trade Union Confederation (UMT) headed by its Secretary-General Miloudi Moukharik, followed by a meeting with a delegation from the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM) chaired by Naim Miara. The Head of Government also met with a delegation from the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), led by Khalid Hwairel Alami, the First Deputy Secretary-General of the union, in addition to holding a meeting with a delegation from the General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco (CGEM) headed by its President Chakib Alj.
The April round of the social dialogue resulted in significant agreements aimed at improving the living conditions of workers and enhancing social protection, including a general wage increase for public sector employees amounting to a net 1,000 dirhams, to be disbursed in two phases, with a second installment expected in July benefiting approximately one million employees. Additionally, it was decided to reduce income tax (IR) by up to 400 dirhams for middle-income groups, along with raising the minimum wage by 10% in the industrial, commercial, and freelance sectors (SMIG), as well as in the agricultural sector (SMAG), in a move aimed at boosting purchasing power and achieving greater social equity.
The discussions also addressed the completion of previous social commitments, the acceleration of the resolution of sectoral files, as well as the inclusion of issues related to local government employees on the agenda in response to the demands of social partners.
In the context of institutionalizing social dialogue, the statement emphasized that the methodology for reforming pension systems was discussed, as part of the practical activation of the April 2022 agreement, which includes respect for the agreed-upon basic principles and the activation of the national committee responsible for the reform.
The meetings also covered pressing issues concerning workers and businesses, including amending the Labor Code to align with labor market developments and workers’ rights, alongside other files that respond to the expectations of social and economic partners.
At the conclusion of the meetings, Aziz Akhannouch praised the strong relationship between the government and its social partners, asserting that social dialogue is a strategic choice for improving purchasing power and implementing the country’s social projects, in clear commitment to the royal high directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
The Head of Government indicated that half of the current governmental term has witnessed the signing of two historic social agreements, a precedent reflecting the depth of political will to establish a genuine partnership aimed at promoting social conditions and achieving a balance between economic rights and national development.
