Social dialogue: Akhannouch takes stock

Addressing members of the House of Councilors, Aziz Akhannouch stressed the importance of social dialogue as an institutional mechanism for enshrining the orientations of the social state. Speaking at the monthly session of public policy questions in the Second Chamber, the Head of Government said that his team had succeeded in setting up « a Moroccan model for social dialogue, by mobilizing the conditions to achieve its results «.

During his visit to the Second Chamber, Akhannouch emphasized « the positive results of the social dialogue rounds». He recalled the pandemic context, linked to Covid-19, which « had an impact on the redefinition of our strategic priorities «. Aziz Akhannouch did not hesitate to criticize the management of this dossier by previous governments. «After the installation of the current government, we had to relaunch this institutional mechanism and re-establish mutual trust between the various social partners, in order to ensure the success of the dialogue rounds», said the Head of Government. «We were expected to address a number of issues»,  he added.

Akhannouch recalled the signing of the National Charter for the Institutionalization of Social Dialogue, with a precise agenda. «This is what led to the signing on April 29, 2024», according to Akhannouch. For him, his team succeeded in reaching «social agreements unprecedented in the history of Moroccan governments, with clear commitments, essentially aimed at improving workers’ income and strengthening social protection». The Head of Government stressed the importance of continuing to discuss all the issues on the social dialogue table, relying on collective reflection to improve workers’ material and moral conditions.

Achievements

In his speech to members of the House of Councillors, Aziz Akhannouch reviewed the results of the last round of social dialogue. He emphasized the general wage increase decided for the public sector, i.e. an increase of 1,000 MAD (USD 100) over two periods. The same goes for the reduction in the personal income tax for civil servants and salaried employees, which is expected to reach 400 MAD (USD 40) for middle-income categories. «These measures will be included in the next Finance Bill», noted the Head of Government. He also recalled the 10% increase in the Minimum Wage (SMIG) and in the Agricultural Minimum Wage (SMAG) « These achievements crystallize our collective awareness of the importance of social dialogue as a strategic choice for the Government «. Previously, the agreement of April 30, 2022, which concerned both the public and private sectors, « had already improved the situation of workers «. In the public sector, the agreement raised the minimum wage in the civil service to MAD 3,500 (USD 350) net. The same applies to the increase in family allowances and to the introduction of paternity leave.

M.A.M.