Ongoing Crisis and Uncertain Fate: Cleaners of Moulay Bousselham Continue Their Sit-in
By: Oussar Ahmed
“Through struggle and perseverance, workers’ rights will return” was the rallying cry of dozens of protesters yesterday, Wednesday, in front of the provincial government office of Kenitra. This demonstration was organized by the Democratic Confederation of Labor to support the cleaners dismissed from the municipality of Moulay Bousselham, who have been on an open-ended sit-in for nearly two years.
The protest, attended by representatives from various union sectors affiliated with the regional union, featured the presence of national and regional union leaders, alongside civil and human rights activists. Strong slogans were raised against what they termed “systematic exclusion and ongoing violations against workers in the sector,” holding both the local municipality and the company responsible for managing the cleaning sector fully accountable for the current situation.
Protest Against “Suspicious” Contract and Condemnation of Exclusion
The demonstration comes amid ongoing social tension within the municipality of Moulay Bousselham, due to a management contract described by the union as “suspicious.” Under this contract, cleaning workers were excluded despite their names being included in the official lists for 2024, replaced by others under opaque circumstances, according to the protesters.
In a statement to “Express TV,” Mohamed Abouirika, the regional secretary for local communities and delegated management in Kenitra, stated that “if the municipal authority decided to reinstate the workers, it would relieve itself of a heavy burden of conscience and correct a serious mistake committed against the children of its region.” He further explained that “the displacement of workers and the starvation of their families for nearly two years is an unacceptable situation that warrants accountability instead of complicity.”
Accusations of Exclusion and Restrictions on Union Freedoms
Statements from the regional union emphasized that the delegated company engaged in “manipulation of lists” and “violations of the law,” by organizing selective competitions outside formal processes, described as a means to exclude union members and restrict union freedoms. The union further accused the municipal head of evading his responsibilities despite explicit instructions from the provincial governor to address the issue.
The union added that “cleaning workers found themselves suddenly on the street, without income, without social protection, and in complete silence from the relevant authorities, which exacerbated the suffering of their families and affected their dignity and rights.”
Cleaners: Divorce, Family Breakdown, and Holidays Turned into Nightmares
In a conversation with “Express TV,” one of the dismissed workers from Moulay Bousselham revealed the daily suffering that he and his colleagues have endured for nearly two years, stating, “The situation has become unbearable, especially since most of us are heads of households with children and we can no longer meet even the most basic needs in light of rising prices and the absence of any stable income.”
The worker mentioned that some of his colleagues have been forced to separate from their families after being unable to provide for even the most basic necessities, stressing that “holidays and the start of the school year have turned into a true nightmare, amid complete disregard from the relevant authorities for our suffering and the lack of any signs of a resolution.”
This testimony reflects the profound social impact of this crisis, which has transcended streets and legal discussions to tear families apart and threaten the psychological and material stability of many workers and their children.
Lack of Response from the Municipality
In an attempt to get the municipality’s perspective on the issue, “Express TV” tried to contact the head of the municipality of Moulay Bousselham, Chawi Belassal, but his phone rang unanswered. Messages were also sent to him through messaging applications, but the newspaper’s team received no reply or interaction.
Expected Escalation and Calls for Accountability
At the conclusion of the protest, the Democratic Confederation of Labor announced its readiness to take further solidarity measures. The union also called on all active forces, including unions, civil society, and the media, to support the workers in their battle for their legitimate right to work and dignity, emphasizing that the struggle would continue until the affected individuals receive justice and those involved are held accountable.
Structural Problems in the Delegated Cleaning Sector
The Moulay Bousselham case is just another example of the challenges faced by numerous local authorities in Morocco with irregularities in managing the cleaning sector through the “delegated management” mechanism. Despite the potential to lower costs and improve services, this approach often becomes a source of protests due to inefficiencies, issues in management as recently witnessed in the Mehdiya municipality in the Kenitra province, violations of contract stipulations, exclusion of former workers, and failure to uphold the minimum social rights.
Unions are calling for the regulation of this vital sector and the activation of monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure the protection of workers’ rights and provide a dignified public service that respects human dignity and the requirements of health and the environment.
