Morocco - February 2025

On 5 February, a new law regulating the right to strike was passed by parliament. The law introduces conditions for organizing and participating in strikes including, among others, advance notice requirements, minimum service levels in essential sectors, and the possibility of fines and administrative penalties for those who fail to comply. Labor unions strongly criticized the law, claiming that it undermines workers' rights. In protest, major unions organized a nationwide strike on 5 and 6 February, the first general strike in a decade. This drew significant participation across key sectors, including transport, healthcare, and education. Unions reports indicated that over 80.0 percent of workers took part, although the figures reported by the government showed lower levels of participation – 32.0 per cent among public sector workers and 1.4 percent in the private sector. Rising living costs were also cited as a major concern driving the strike.

Sources: Barlaman Today, Morocco World News, British Broadcasting Corporation Arabic, The North Africa Post, The North Africa Post (2)