BWI Mission to Morocco

18 December 2018 21:40

 

Morocco has always remained a key and strategic country for BWI with almost five strategic Union Federations BWI represented in two National Union Federations – UMT which is the oldest and biggest in the country and the UGTM.

From the 7 to 8 December 2018, BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson accompanied by the Regional Representative Crecentia Mofokeng and the MENA Coordinator Wassim Rifi, as well as President of the Network of Construction Trade unions in Lebanon Antoun Antoun, visited the affiliates in Morocco to listen to their challenges and achievements. In addition, it also provided an opportunity for the affiliates to have a better understanding of BWI’s global priorities.

Yuson had an opportunity to meet with the Workers Committee and Management of Lafarge-Holcim Bouskoura plant. Some of the key challenges raised by the workers were the transformation from permanent employment to subcontracting. Currently, 70 per cent of the worker force at the plant are now under subcontract employment contracts. All workers including subcontract workers are members of the trade union and included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Another challenge was the weakening of social dialogue and key social partners. As a way to resolve this, the trade union movement in Morocco is working diligently to engage the Government to improve this situation.

General Secretary Yuson expressed his appreciation for the hard work of the Moroccan trade unions to ensure decent work and improve occupational health and safety working conditions for workers in Morocco. He also highlighted the historic conference taking place in Marrakesh, where the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GC) will be adopted from 11-12 December. The GCM is a non-binding multi-lateral inter-governmental negotiated agreement under the UN that covers all areas of international migration. Yuson also encouraged the affiliates work closely together to build a strong and unified trade union movement in Morocco. In doing so, it would also, of course, have positive impact for BWI affiliates and the trade union movement throughout Middle East and North Africa sub- regions.