Morocco: government and syndicates agree dialogue

The ministry of public jobs and the administration for modernisation in Morocco, held its second meeting on Monday for a social dialogue with the representatives of the main five labour unions of the North African country: The Moroccan Labour Union, the Labour Democratic Confederal, the Labour Democratic Federal, the General Union of Labour and the Labour National Union. The meeting resulted in an agreement about the agenda for 2012 and the draft points to discuss in 2013, while the representatives of the Moroccan Labour Union and the Labour Democratic Confederal expressed reservations about discussing the laws of syndicates and labour strike. A statement issued by the public jobs ministry revealed the government has agreed with the unions' representatives to set six new joint committees, which are: 1- The committee of amending the basic system of public jobs 2- The committee of reforming wages structure 3- The committee of implementing the terms of the April 26 2011 agreement 4- The committee of reviewing the decree of the equal administrative committees 5- The committee of the labour strike law 6- The committee of reforming the retirement systems The meeting witnessed an agreement about holding the next two meetings for social dialogue in September 2012 and February 2013. The 2012 meeting should see a discussion about the finance law. The statement said that the dialogue between the two parties was characterised by "high responsibility, seriousness and frankness, as both parties took into account the recent social and economic conditions witnessed in Morocco. Both parties agreed to adopt a collective approach that aims to ensure good governance, and maintain social peace in the country."