Government and unions wrap up social dialogue round
The Moroccan government and trade unions signed on Wednesday the minutes marking the end of the round of social negotiations between the two sides on a series of salary and social salary claims for various categories of civil servants.
The two parties agreed on a package of measures related to the salary system and the revision of the situation of several categories of civil servants. Other outstanding issues will be examined in other sessions.
Prime minister, Driss Jettou, said the phased-out salary rise will cost the state 4.2 billion DH (around US$ 483 million) in 2003, 7.2 billion DH (US$ around 827.5 million) in 2004, 9 billion DH (US$ 1.03 billion) in 2005 and over 11 billion DH in 2006 (US$ 1.62 billion).
The prime minister called the results of the new round of negotiations a new milestone in the construction of a modern and democratic social model and in the modernization of public service.
"We have sought to gradually move to redress imbalances, inequalities, mainly by bridging gaps between categories of the same level and between the high and low salaries of the public administration, to create an atmosphere of social peace to promote investments, employment and growth, and consequently improve the image of Morocco," said Jettou.
After conceding that the new salary rises do not totally meet the demands, the prime minister explained that they are however important in that they respond to some very old grievances, insisting that they will entail heavy burdens for the state and local councils finances and worsen the enormous salary cost.
He further stressed that the government is well aware that the agreements go beyond the present realities of public finances and that this will entail a cut in the state's efforts geared to generating jobs and fighting unemployment that affects thousands of young Moroccans. He, however, hoped that civil servants will work more resolvedly in the construction of the "Great Morocco" project, led, with wisdom and determination by the king.
Social dialogue will be carried on the claims of the "administrators" as well as on the situation of the public health civil servants.