Moroccan Senate Approves Controversial Bill Regulating Right to Strike

On Monday, February 3, 2025, the Moroccan Senate approved the draft organic law No. 97.15, which defines the conditions and procedures for exercising the right to strike, amidst opposition from certain parliamentary and union groups. Following the vote, the bill will be sent back to the House of Representatives for a second reading to continue the legislative process.

The bill was approved with 41 votes in favor and 7 against, with no members abstaining. It received support from the parliamentary groups of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, the National Rally of Independents, the Istiqlal Party, and the Popular Movement, along with backing from the General Union of Moroccan Workers and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises. In contrast, the Democratic Confederation of Labor, the Socialist team, the Federalist opposition, and the National Union of Labor in Morocco opposed the bill.

The session saw the withdrawal of the Moroccan Trade Union Federation (UMT) from the proceedings at the outset, in protest against the exclusion of its 43 proposed amendments from the final version of the bill, despite ongoing discussions during the approval process. Parliamentary debates centered on new amendments that had not been previously presented to the Committee on Education, Culture, and Social Affairs.

While some parliamentary groups expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s refusal to adopt the proposed amendments, arguing that the bill imposes restrictions on the right to strike, the majority defended the text, asserting that it strikes a balance between workers’ rights and ensuring the stability of businesses.

As the bill is set to be reviewed again by the House of Representatives, it continues to attract wide attention due to its direct implications for the trade union landscape and labor relations in Morocco.

source: fesnews media

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