Morocco Passes New Strike Law After Marathon Parliamentary Session
After a marathon 17-hour session that stretched from Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, the Social Sectors Committee of the Moroccan House of Representatives approved a new law regulating the right to strike. The bill, officially designated as Organic Law No. 97.15, passed with a majority vote of 22 in favor, 7 against, and no abstentions.
This landmark legislation aims to define the conditions and procedures for exercising the right to strike in Morocco. The extended session, attended by Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, Younes Sekkouri, and Secretary of State for Employment, Hicham Sabry, saw rigorous debate and voting on over 300 amendments proposed by various parliamentary groups and individual representatives.
The right to strike is a fundamental labor right recognized internationally, including by the International Labour Organization (ILO) [https://www.ilo.org/global/standards/subjects-covered-by-international-labour-standards/freedom-of-association-and-the-right-to-collective-bargaining/lang–en/index.htm]. However, the specifics of its implementation are often subject to national legislation. Many countries, like Canada [https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/labour-standards/reports/right-strike.html] and the United Kingdom [https://www.gov.uk/industrial-action-strikes/overview], have established legal frameworks to balance the right to strike with other societal interests, such as maintaining essential services.
The details of Morocco’s new strike law are yet to be fully publicized. However, the extensive deliberation and numerous amendments suggest a comprehensive approach to this complex issue. The law’s passage follows previous discussions and debates on the topic, reflecting the ongoing evolution of labor relations in the country. Further information regarding the specific provisions of Law No. 97.15 will be crucial for understanding its potential impact on workers, employers, and the Moroccan economy. It will be interesting to see how this new legislation compares to existing strike laws in other North African countries and how it aligns with international labor standards.
This development comes at a time of increasing focus on labor rights globally. The World Bank, for example, highlights the importance of effective labor regulations for economic development [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/labor]. The new law’s impact on Morocco’s labor market and its broader economic implications will be subjects of close observation in the coming months and years. It is anticipated that further analysis and commentary will emerge as the details of the law become more widely available. This new legislation represents a significant step in shaping the future of labor relations in Morocco.
Keywords: Morocco, strike law, labor rights, Organic Law No. 97.15, Younes Sekkouri, Hicham Sabry, House of Representatives, parliamentary session, labor relations, ILO, international labor standards, North Africa, economic impact.
