A general strike has been held in Morocco, involving large sectors of the workforce, according to union sources. The strike, which is the first to take place since 2016, was convened by several unions to protest the new strike law and the conditions of workers in general. While there is a lack of official data, photographs have been published on social media platforms showing various protests that have occurred.
Miloudi Moukharik, the general secretary of the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT), one of the unions that called for the strike, stated in an interview that “The Moroccan working class, all combined categories, from simple employees to executives, have carried out the general strike order in all highly strategic activity sectors.” He emphasized the widespread nature of the strike, which has affected various key sectors.
The public education sector has been completely paralyzed, with a 100% strike rate, as has the health sector. However, the UMT has requested that emergency services continue to function normally to ensure that patients receive a minimum level of attention. Additionally, the strike has had a significant impact on other sectors, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance, and the energy sector, all of which have reported 100% strike rates.
The strike has also affected the banking sector, with employees of the 13 main banks participating, although some branches have remained open due to non-unionized employees who have chosen to work. The Post Office has also been closed, and there has been a total paralysis of transport, logistics, and the automobile industry. According to Moukharik, the strike rate has reached 84.8% based on initial statistics collected. Overall, the general strike has had a significant impact on various sectors in Morocco, highlighting the concerns of workers regarding the new strike law and their working conditions.