Moroccan union calls government to respect social commitments

The Moroccan labor union (CDT, close to the Socialist Union of Popular Forces of Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi) called the government to respect the social commitments it already contracted in an accord with trade unions.

The government "continues to ignore the social dossier," CDT said in a release, calling for the implementation of the accord concluded with the unions, especially regarding urgent issues, such as social conflicts, promotion and compensations.

The Union warned that "the labor class is ready to retaliate and take the necessary measures to defend social and material grievances."

The CDT also decried the government's decision to raise fuel prices saying the decision "will be translated by a hike in other products prices and will adversely impact the labor classes' purchasing power."

The petroleum products prices were increased by 4.8 to 10.8% as of last Saturday. The increase was decided following the hike of crude oil prices on the world market. The price of a liter of diesel went up by 9.3% to stand at 5.76 DH/liter ($1 = 10DH), ordinary petrol was increased by 9.8% (8.65DH/liter) and high grade petrol by 10.8% (9.05 DH/liter). The price of industrial fuel went up by 4.8% to stand at over 2,301 DH per ton.

Moroccan energy and mining minister, Youssef Tahiri, had said the fuel price hike should have been over 50%, but the government had to take into account the population's purchasing power.