Morocco and the European Union Strengthen Their Partnership in Labor Mobility
Express TV: Mustafa Filali
The Minister of Economic Integration, Small Enterprises, Employment, and Skills, Younes Skouri, held discussions with the European Commissioner for Mediterranean Affairs, Dubravka Šuica, on the sidelines of the Porto Social Forum, which commenced today with significant participation from government representatives and the European Union.
The talks focused on ways to develop cooperation between Morocco and the European Union in the realm of labor mobility, within the framework of strategic partnerships aimed at supporting employment and enhancing mutual economic development.
The Moroccan minister presented the Kingdom’s experience in this area, highlighting the social gains achieved, notably the new law regulating the right to strike, which strengthens worker protection within a modern legislative framework. He emphasized the concept of “vertical integration” in professional mobility, aimed at aligning workers’ skills with the demands of European labor markets, thereby ensuring effective integration that serves the interests of both parties.
Skouri stressed the importance of formulating a clear vision for labor needs in Europe, ensuring joint funding, along with the recognition of professional qualifications and expanding the pool of Moroccan mobile workers to meet European demand. He also called for involving the private sector and providing pre-training programs that include language and cultural education to ensure a smooth integration of workers in host countries.
For her part, Šuica acknowledged that Europe faces major demographic challenges due to an aging population, making it urgently necessary to attract labor from outside the Union. She revealed the launch of two key initiatives: “The Alliance for the Mediterranean” and “Talent Partnership,” to facilitate the flow of labor and organize its integration into European labor markets.
The European Commissioner also called for considering the establishment of an alliance among Mediterranean universities to enhance academic and vocational training, noting that the European Union is working to expand its partnerships with Mediterranean and Gulf countries to strengthen experience exchanges and enhance skills for mutual development.
This meeting takes place within the context of the Porto Social Forum, organized in coordination with the European Commission under the theme “Quality Jobs in a Social and Competitive Europe,” which aims to formulate a new plan to activate the European Pillar of Social Rights and enhance the competitiveness of the old continent by providing job opportunities that meet current economic and demographic challenges.
