The Moroccan textile and clothing industry has recently been the scene of several tragic incidents, highlighting the harsh realities workers face and the inadequate safety protocols in place.
Dangerous practices such as the use of gas-fired boilers are believed to have caused fires at production facilities in Fes, Casablanca and Tangier, resulting in fatalities and serious burns requiring hospitalisation.
Unions are leading initiatives to address these challenges, with a promising dialogue with the Ministry of Labor signaling progress towards sustainable solutions.
These tragedies highlight a growing concern within Morocco’s fast-growing textile, clothing and leather (TGSL) industry, which has seen rapid expansion to meet the needs of international brands. However, this growth has not been accompanied by improvements in workplace safety standards, exposing workers to serious hazards.
SNTHC-CDT assertively launched a campaign targeting deteriorating working conditions and inadequate safety measures. On November 15, the union called for a national dialogue aimed at uniting different parties to devise a strategy to improve health and safety within the TGSL sector.
The union’s sustained efforts culminated in a crucial meeting with the Ministry of Labor in Rabat on November 29. The meeting brought together key figures including Hicham Sabri, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ahmed Hassoun, General Secretary of the SNTHC-CDT. Discussions focused on the critical need for progress in occupational health and safety.
Ahmed Hassoun said: “The meeting was positive as the ministry took note of SNTHC-CDT’s request to hold a national debate bringing together all stakeholders in the sector.
“We also informed the minister about the ACCORD agreement and emphasized the importance of its implementation in Morocco. In response, the ministry has agreed to organize a meeting with representatives of ACCORD, IndustriALL and SNTHC-CDT to further discuss the options for the implementation of ACCORD. in Morocco.”
The delegation criticized employers for failing to comply with existing health and safety regulations and denounced inhumane working conditions in clandestine companies.
They implored the ministry to abolish such practices and formulate a comprehensive national strategy for enforcing robust health and safety standards.
Now that the ministry has agreed to work with ACCORD representatives as well as IndustriALL and SNTHC-CDT affiliates, there is an atmosphere of cautious optimism about substantive reforms.
