Morocco's government, unions agree on labor code draft on may day eve
Morocco, Politics, 5/2/2003

Morocco's Premier, Driss Jettou announced in Rabat on Wednesday that the government and social partners agreed on pending issues related to a draft labor code on May Day eve.

"We have come around a consensus on pending issues concerning the draft labor code," said Jettou, who was presenting the results of the latest round of social dialogue with trade unions and employers.

The project is set to help modernize professional relations within the Moroccan enterprise based on norms and legal regulations that uphold all the parties' rights, stressed Jettou.

The draft Labor code, he explained will also help tune national legislation with the internationally recognized principles, among others union's freedom of action, and protection of employees' representatives.

The draft also provides for a 10 per cent rise in basic minimum wage in both public and semi-public sectors to be implemented in two stages, he added.

Other principles set forth in this project include the reduction of the weekly working hours from 48 to 44, the adoption of the principles of flexibility, and compensation in case of job loss, he went on, noting that the draft will undoubtedly spur foreign investments in Morocco.

The Prime Minister added the government and unions agreed on the mechanisms whereby social conflicts will be settled, a legal framework regulating strikes in such a way that guarantees the wielding of "this constitutional right on one hand and work freedom on the other."

In a related development, Employment, Social Affairs and Solidarity minister, Mustapha Mansouri termed as "revolutionary" the outcome of the government-unions dialogue that "will have in an immediate future strong and very positive repercussions" on the national economy.

The official told MAP that at the consensus that was built by the government and its social partners is "an extremely important step forward for our country."

Previous Stories:
  Birth of new association to defend democracy and modernity in morocco   (5/1/2003)
  Morocco's premier holds talks with trade unions' representatives   (3/29/2003)
  Government, trade union agree on working methodology to shelve pending issues   (1/28/2003)
  Moroccan union decries arrest of two leaders   (6/15/2000)
  Government, trade unions, employers reach agreement to prevent general strike   (4/24/2000)
  Major Moroccan unions pull out of social dialogue round   (12/4/1999)
  Government promises to address trade unions' urgent grievances   (11/30/1999)
  Moroccan unionist leader decries government's coldness in handling social problems   (6/25/1999)
  Respect of trade union rights is essential for promotion of enterprises   (2/10/1999)

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