Labor Day: Minister stresses need for better distribution of wealth
Morocco, Economics, 5/1/2000

Moroccan Minister of Social Development, Solidarity, Employment and Vocational Training Khalid Alioua stressed on Sunday the need to set forth mechanisms likely to reduce social disparities.

In a traditional speech on the occasion of the Labor Day, Alioua, who is also spokesman of the government, said this goal can be achieved through a better distribution of wealth and a stable social atmosphere.

After he hailed the Moroccan labor class' solidarity with the rural world, affected by a severe dry season, he underlined that the government is granting a particular importance to the working class and recalled the agreement signed between the government, two major trade unions and the enterprise association.

He said negotiations did not only cover material claims but other important issues like an insurance for job loss and the revision of the retirement regime.

On April 23, the government, CDT and UGTM trade unions and the CGEM employers associations announced an agreement meeting social grievances and averting a general strike planned for April 25. The agreement provides for a 10% increase in the guaranteed inter-professional minimum salary which would be set at 1,815 Dhs ($181.5) as of next July. Other provisions of the agreement include the generalization of internal promotion in Moroccan public administration starting in 2001, the creation of 17,000 new jobs in public service by turn of current fiscal year and a permanent status to provisional employees by 2001.

Under the agreement, the government also undertakes to improve social welfare, reconsider the taxes imposed on wage-earners and set up a tripartite committee to see to the agreement enforcement.

The creation of a board to compensate unemployed persons and generalizing the compulsory health insurance and social coverage are other items agreed upon between the three partners in the "social dialogue."

Alioua also announced on Sunday the creation of a commission that drafted a law regulating and reorganizing social coverage of the private sector workers. He added the government will undertake starting this week measures to clear the social atmosphere and will be focusing action on the graduates' unemployment.

Previous Stories:
  Unemployment rate drops slightly during fourth quarter of 1999   (4/28/2000)
  Moroccan homeless children association raises funds   (4/28/2000)
  French fund consolidates development assistance to Morocco   (4/28/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search