Morocco: The Executive Board of the CDT meets and speaks on national priorities

The Executive Board of the Democratic Confederation of Labour (CDT) issued a communiqué following a virtual meeting last Wednesday. The press release reads as follows:

The CDT Executive Board met remotely on Wednesday, 30 September 2020, to discuss different aspects of the current situation in light of the worsening health, social and economic impacts of the pandemic. The meeting also addressed the issue of collective redundancies, the failure to respect the fundamental rights of workers, restrictions on trade union freedoms and the government’s delay in paying compensation to those who have temporarily lost their jobs.

While the plan to revive the national economy on jobs and the purchasing power of citizens is still struggling to positively influence the situation, the government continues to enact legislation that threatens social achievements and does not serve national priorities.The Executive Board also discussed the orientations of the 2021 Finance Bill, the evolution of the issue of our territorial integrity and the program of organization and annual struggle.

Following this meeting, the CDT Executive Board issued the following recommendations and requests:

1. Calling on the Government to speed up the publication of the regulatory text setting out the sectors concerned by continued support for workers affected by the temporary suspension of work and the need to intervene to put an end to the mass redundancies of workers, the closure of companies and the

expulsion of trade union offices in many companies (Fez, Marrakech, Casablanca, Ouarzazate, Sale etc.).

2. Considering that the social priorities in the 2021 Finance Bill should be incorporated into the budgets allocated to education, health, social protection and other social sectors.

3. Reiterating its rejection of the method of consultation on all social laws and calls for the initiation of a responsible social dialogue on all priority national affairs.

4. Underlining the principled position of the CDT on the issue of territorial integrity and calls on the State to involve all expressions of society in the defence of our national cause and to create an atmosphere of community mobilization to face all maneuvers that affect our territorial integrity.

5. Supporting all sectors that are constantly protesting to defend the situation of their workers and holding the government responsible for these social tensions.