Morocco: workers strike nationwide against tycoon PM Akhennouch 'anti-worker' bill

Across Morocco, from the factories of Casablanca to the dock yards of Tangiers, workers walked off the job on Wednesday, paralysing the North African kingdom amid a growing dispute between trade unions and the government.

The one-day nationwide strike, called by the country's largest labour unions, is a direct response to a controversial bill that unions say will undermine workers' right to protest. 

At the heart of the unrest is draft law 97.15, which seeks to regulate strikes by imposing strict conditions on their legality. 

While the government insists the bill will bring order to labour disputes, unions argue it is a thinly veiled attempt to suppress dissent. The law passed the House of Councillors -- the upper house of the Parliament of Morocco -- on Monday with little resistance, but opposition on the streets remains strong.

"The government refused to reverse the criminalisation of occupying workplaces or to lift salary deductions for striking workers", said parliamentary councillor Khalid Souti of the National Labour Union of Morocco. 

Souti warned that the decree endangers workers, with strikes potentially arising from unpaid wages or non-compliance with the minimum wage, among other amendments.

On the eve of the strike, the Federation of Democratic Unions called the nationwide strike a "warning battle."

Participation has been widespread, spanning transport, healthcare, and education. Even the traditionally moderate Moroccan Workers' Union (UMT) joined, declaring a two-day work stoppage.

Prime Minister Aziz Akhennouch argues the bill is necessary to protect businesses and offer guarantees to foreign investments.

"We need a legal framework that balances workers' rights with economic stability", Prime Minister Aziz Akhennouch said earlier this week.

The opposition party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) has accused the government of leveraging its parliamentary majority– consisting of three parties – "to push through the bill using an incomplete approach, as it often does," said Karim Taj, a member of the left-wing party's political bureau.

However, for unions, the dispute is about more than legalities—it is a fight over eroding wages, rising living costs, and what they see as the government's indifference to workers' struggles. 

Since October, when unions first mobilised against the bill, Morocco has seen a wave of labour protests and walkouts. A nationwide strike on 19 January signalled growing resistance, and analysts say this latest work stoppage is a crucial test for Akhennouch's cabinet

With inflation at 8% and unemployment at 13.3%, the strike presents a significant challenge for Akhennouch, whose personal wealth and business interests are seen by many as driving his 'anti-worker' policies.

From the Casablanca bread riots to the 20 February movement, unions' strikes and protests have played a key role in shaping the Kingdom's politics, sometimes leading to the ousting of governments. 

The North Africa Center for Studies and Public Policy said labour relations in Morocco have now again reached a breaking point. Either the government finds a compromise, or it risks pushing opposition to the extreme.

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, where it is expected to pass. If approved, unions threaten to turn to the International Labour Organisation and explore other means to keep up the pressure. 

"Approval by the House of Advisors doesn't mark the end of the fight", warned Younes Firachin, an executive with the Democratic Confederation of Labour, during a press conference Tuesday.