Understanding Social Dialogue in Morocco
The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines social dialogue as encompassing all types of negotiations, consultations, or simply exchanges of information between representatives of governments, employers, and workers on matters of common interest related to economic and social policies. This dialogue can take the form of a tripartite process involving all three parties, a bipartite setting solely between employers and employees, or even between unions and employer organizations, potentially with direct or indirect government involvement. The nature of this dialogue can be informal or institutionalized, and it can occur at national, regional, or local levels. Additionally, it may be intersectoral, sectoral, or specific to a particular company.
In Morocco, the current government has continually emphasized its social character since its inception, despite a blatant contradiction with its fundamentally capitalist, liberal, and conservative nature. The composition, ideology, and actions of the government appear far removed from genuine social concerns, which seem to serve only as a marketing slogan. Consequently, the protocol meetings held just before each Workers' Day, which symbolize the institutionalization of social dialogue, are regarded as a social exploit of this government. This raises pertinent questions: Is this truly social dialogue, or merely a "bribe" to improve the image of unions among their supporters? Can we speak of the institutionalization of the process? Who truly benefits from this social dialogue? Is it all Moroccan workers or just a minority who possess "the voice": the state employees?
The Current State of Social Dialogue Mechanisms in Morocco
According to the ILO, several fundamental conditions are necessary for effective social dialogue. These include strong and independent organizations of workers and employers that have the technical capacity and access to relevant information to engage in social dialogue; a clear political will from all parties to engage in this dialogue; respect for fundamental rights such as freedom of association and collective bargaining as stated in ILO Conventions No. 87 and No. 98; appropriate institutional support; and mutual recognition among social partner representatives.
In Morocco, social dialogue is primarily organized through various bodies designed to promote social peace and regulate relationships among economic and social partners. These bodies can be bipartite or tripartite, with tripartite participants consisting of representatives from governments, employer organizations, and workers. However, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) has noted in its report "Social Dialogue in Morocco," adopted on November 26, 2020, that the dialogue is neither institutionalized nor regular and is heavily influenced by political circumstances. It is often limited to national-level tripartite dialogue rounds, undermining other forms of social dialogue that significantly impact social peace, economic performance, and social progress.
Morocco has several social dialogue mechanisms established by legislative and regulatory texts, including the CESE, which is a constitutional body with a tripartite composition that provides advisory opinions on the country’s major economic and social directions; the Higher Council of Public Service, which is responsible for ensuring fundamental guarantees for civil servants; and the Higher Council for Employment, which is mandated to coordinate government employment policy. However, many of these bodies have not convened regularly, with some experiencing prolonged lethargy since their last meetings. For instance, the Higher Council for Public Service has not met since January 2019, demonstrating a lack of commitment to regular dialogue.
The ongoing issues of lethargy and the lack of engagement from various social dialogue bodies raise significant concerns about the government's commitment to social dialogue, especially as it nears the end of its term. Questions remain regarding the operationalization of legal provisions for social dialogue and the effectiveness of these institutions in addressing the needs of the workforce. Furthermore, the fragmentation of unions within Morocco complicates collective negotiations, as different unions often compete rather than collaborate on workers' rights.
As reported by ecoactu.ma.
