فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Fes News has obtained a copy of a statement issued by the Moroccan Agriculture Union, in which it expresses appreciation for the positive atmosphere that characterized discussions with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, following years of exclusion. The union emphasized its anticipation of the effective implementation of the dialogue’s outcomes, which would positively impact workers in the sector.
According to the statement, the meeting, held on Friday, February 7, 2025, served as an opportunity to present key demands based on a field study covering employees and staff of the ministry’s central and regional administrations, as well as public institutions under its jurisdiction. During the session, the union welcomed the minister’s decision to end over eight years of marginalization and to establish open and constructive dialogue channels with social partners.
The minister demonstrated an understanding of the various concerns raised and confirmed his willingness to address the most pressing issues. These include institutionalizing social dialogue through a regular schedule of meetings, establishing a social charter to govern relations between the administration and social partners, and signing official agreements for resolved matters. He also emphasized the need to respect trade union freedoms and promised to lift any restrictions affecting union activists while ensuring equal facilitation for all representative unions.
Regarding labor regulations, the minister pledged to accelerate the implementation of the legal framework for employees of regional agricultural investment offices, independent of administrative restructuring plans. He also expressed willingness to review the regulatory frameworks governing other agricultural institutions, including the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), the National Office for Agricultural Advisory Services, the National Institute for Agricultural Research, and the Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine.
On the restructuring of the ministry’s external services, the minister indicated that this project would be completed within one to one and a half years, assuring that the union would be informed of any updates as soon as they become available.
The meeting also addressed the improvement of social services for sector employees. The minister expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Social Welfare Institution and announced plans to increase its financial support from the Ministry of Finance. In response to the union’s demands, the minister committed to enhancing service quality and expanding social support programs, including housing, vacation benefits, pilgrimage assistance, and introducing a special Eid Al-Adha allowance.
Regarding managerial appointments, the union emphasized the need to base selections on competence and experience rather than extending the tenure of retirees. Additionally, discussions covered professional development, with the union proposing the creation of a digital platform for training programs, allowing employees equal access to learning opportunities. The minister welcomed this proposal and reiterated his commitment to improving training quality while addressing existing inefficiencies.
The minister also committed to addressing irregularities in professional examinations within regional agricultural investment offices, ONSSA, and the National Office for Agricultural Advisory Services to ensure fairness among employees. Further discussions touched on human resource policies, including revising the transfer system for greater transparency and equity, increasing travel allowances by 20% every five years, ensuring payments between the 20th and 25th of each month, and maintaining agreed-upon promotion standards for at least four years before any modifications based on evaluative studies.
The discussion also covered the operations of regional agricultural investment offices, with the union calling for the establishment of regional social dialogue mechanisms and prioritizing internal talent for leadership positions instead of extending the service of retired managers. Additionally, the possibility of integrating the social services of these offices into a unified system to improve efficiency was explored.
Regarding ONSSA, the minister expressed willingness to consider multiple demands, including regular medical examinations for employees, legal protection for inspectors performing regulatory duties, and the generalization of hazard allowances. He also committed to reviewing the legal framework of the National Office for Agricultural Advisory Services and improving working conditions at regional agricultural advisory centers by providing essential infrastructure and ensuring fair distribution of human resources according to sectoral needs.
As for the Independent Institution for Export Monitoring and Coordination, the union demanded the reinstatement of two vacation centers previously affiliated with the Marketing and Export Office, which were transferred to the institution’s social welfare association. The minister assured that this matter would be reviewed.
The union stressed the need to place agricultural trainers at the core of any development strategy, granting them continuous training opportunities and participation in national and international scientific conferences. It also called for revising certain training specialties to align with labor market demands, introducing new disciplines related to renewable energy and organic farming, addressing the shortage of educational staff, and offering financial compensation to trainers similar to other employees.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Moroccan Agriculture Union acknowledged that time constraints prevented a full discussion of all demands. It confirmed that social dialogue sessions would continue to address pending issues. The union reaffirmed its commitment to defending workers’ rights and advancing its advocacy efforts to secure further gains, solidifying its role as an influential trade union within the agricultural sector.
source : fesnews media
