Social Dialogue: The Ritual Resumes
Just days ahead of Labour Day, the government has resumed social consultations. On Tuesday, April 22, bilateral meetings between the government, various trade union confederations, and the CGEM (General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises) restarted, marking the beginning of a new phase of social dialogue.
As is customary each year in the lead-up to May 1st, the round of consultations is back in motion amid high expectations and muted weariness. Every spring, the same pattern repeats: behind-the-scenes preliminary talks, a few days of bilateral meetings, followed by the announcement of commissions tasked with delving deeper into the issues. On the ground, however, these efforts rarely lead to concrete outcomes. In truth, social dialogue remains too sporadic and still lacks integration into sustainable mechanisms.
In any case, the agenda for this new round is already looking heavy. Several key reforms are up for discussion, in a politically sensitive context marked by the recent adoption of legislation governing the right to strike, as well as increasing pressure to deliver structural reforms.
This year, expectations are particularly high. Several major issues remain unresolved, beginning with pension reform, the revision of the Labour Code, governance of continuing vocational training, and the strengthening of trade union freedoms and related legislation. The wide range of demands also reflects a growing fragmentation among unions, which continue to struggle to unite around shared priorities and coordinated action.
Among the strategic files is that of pensions. A general consensus had been reached on the overall structure of the reform: a two-pillar system (public and private), a basic scheme supplemented by complementary schemes, and the gradual harmonization of calculation rules. However, no parametric proposal has yet been officially submitted, despite the partners’ agreement to present the matter to Parliament during the fall 2024 session. To date, no action has been taken.
Today, trade unions remain cautious. Any measure involving an increase in the legal retirement age, higher contribution rates, or reduced benefits is systematically viewed as a threat to acquired rights. The government, for its part, appears to be stalling caught between the difficult balancing act of ensuring financial sustainability of the pension schemes and preserving social peace. Unions continue to call for a shared diagnosis and access to detailed actuarial data. The issue of arduous working conditions also repeatedly surfaces, but without notable progress to date.
Another sensitive reform is the revision of the Labour Code. The aim is to modernize the legal framework to reconcile economic competitiveness with worker protection. Employers are advocating for more flexibility, particularly regarding the use of fixed-term contracts and dismissal procedures. Unions, on the other hand, fear this would lead to increased job insecurity. Tensions remain high on this front. The negotiations are expected to be particularly challenging, as they underscore a fundamental divide between market adaptation logics and social demands focused on employment stability.
Khadija MASMOUDI
