Two major Moroccan unions decry government action on workers grievances
Morocco, Politics, 5/3/1999

Two major Moroccan trade unions decried during separate rallies on Workers Day (May 1) the lack of response of the Socialist-led government to meet the grievances of the labor class.

The present government is adopting the same approach as the previous right-wing governments in dealing with the grievances of the labor class, said Abdelmajid Bouzoubaa, assistant Secretary-General of the General Labor Confederation, CDT/close to the Socialist Union of Popular Forces/USFP of Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi.

Echoing the CDT, activist Mahjoub Benseddik, secretary-general of the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT/independent), denounced the "so-called social dialogue that is being carried on without tangible results."

This dialogue "obeys unsaid calculations that are totally against the general interest," said Benseddik, whose union boycotts the social dialogue between the government, unions and employers.

The three partners held last April 16 a first session of dialogue that was crowned with a declaration dubbed "the Moharram 1st Declaration," including several provisions related mainly to the reintegration of workers expelled for unionist activities, unionist freedom and employment of jobless graduates.

Bouzoubaa also decried the government's failure to fulfil the promises it made in its swearing-in program, under the pretext of rare resources, wages burden and heavy debt.

He said the government ignores the trade unions' claims to increase the minimum legal wage and of the civil service salaries.

In this connection, Mahjoub Benseddik called for a 30 percent increase of the minimum legal wage.

He also urged for improving retirement pensions and the generalizing medical coverage.

"The social saving which stands at scores of billions of dirhams ($1 is 9 dh) is exploited by speculators and privileged persons with no control," Benseddik said.

Moroccan Employment Minister Khalid Alioua insisted in his Workers Day speech that the social dialogue will be continued to meet the grievances of the labor class.

He underlined the need to increase economic productivity, spur national and foreign investments and ensure a regular and sustained economic growth increase to be able to meet the labor class' grievances and improve its living standards.

Alioua called on the labor class and employers to show patriotism to fulfil the expected objectives in an atmosphere marked by social peace.

He also underlined the government's efforts to settle the problem of joblessness problem, that affects more than 18 percent of the country's mostly young population of 28 million souls.

The settlement of the joblessness problem requires the mobilization of the public powers, trade unions, enterprises, associations and all actors, he said.

The government's action to settle the unemployment problem has allowed for the employment of 25,500 people until last week, he said, terming the figure as considerable given the positive effects of such a move on Moroccan families.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco and Spain pledge to give new momentum to bilateral relations   (4/30/1999)
  Some 3,500 jobless graduates peacefully march in Rabat   (4/28/1999)
  King Hassan II receives education reform commission   (4/27/1999)

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

Search