The Urgency of Resolving Social Conflicts
9 March 2012
Read by 1866 persons
In order to find solutions to employment-related problems, the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT) signed a framework agreement last Wednesday governing social mediation.
The urgency of resolving social conflicts is justified by the sharp increase in strike movements in 2011. The Ministry of Employment recorded 356 in the first nine months of 2011, compared to 241 for the whole of 2010.
After signing a first agreement with the Moroccan Union of Labor (UMT) on January 24, which established a mediation commission to prevent collective conflicts in companies, the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) is beginning to extend this mechanism for resolving social problems to other trade union organizations.
It has just signed a framework agreement for social mediation with the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT). This agreement, which involves all CGEM member companies and trade unions under the CDT, concerns the creation of a joint commission composed of representatives of both parties, which will be responsible for appointing mediators to find compromise solutions in the event of disputes between employers and employees.
Building Employer-Employee Trust
On this occasion, Noubir El Amaoui, Secretary General of the CDT, welcomed this agreement, which he considers a major trade union achievement that will give new impetus to trade union action and the country's economic development efforts. For the president of the CGEM, Mohamed Horani, this agreement is a first step that will help regain the trust of employees. "We are convinced that the agreement we signed today will play an important role in resolving social conflicts, which will facilitate the establishment of a trusting relationship between companies and employees," he emphasizes. "Conflicts are sometimes due to misunderstandings or unfounded causes, and resolution only requires a communication effort," he continues.
Considering the willingness of both parties to develop a consensus on all projects of national interest, to establish favorable conditions for workers in order to improve their productivity and strengthen their partnership in social mediation, this framework agreement will aim to establish a process of prevention and resolution of collective conflicts in the professional environment, for a better sustainability of the company and an undeniable preservation of the interests of workers.
Indeed, the social mediation commission will thus be tasked with handling and resolving social conflicts before they become complicated and creating a healthy climate within the company, allowing for consultation and ensuring profitability, quality and promotion for the benefit of both social partners. This commission is also required to meet every three months to review the achievements in mediation, whenever the situation requires such a meeting, or at the request of one of the parties involved in the aforementioned agreement.
Strikes: 2011, a Record Year
The number of strikes in Morocco has almost doubled in one year. Indeed, the year 2011 marked a very sharp increase in conflict in the world of work. In the first nine months of the year alone, the number of strikes recorded by the Ministry of Employment broke the record of the last ten years, reaching 356, compared to 241 for the whole of 2010. The number of working days lost for the entire year is around 250,000, compared to 77,277 five years ago. The number of establishments affected by these strikes amounted to 265 for the first nine months of 2011, compared to 194 in 2010, 185 in 2009, 179 in 2008 and 147 in 2007.
Hajjar El Haiti.
Le matin.ma
Published March 1, 2012.
Posted online March 9, 2012.
The urgency of resolving social conflicts is justified by the sharp increase in strike movements in 2011. The Ministry of Employment recorded 356 in the first nine months of 2011, compared to 241 for the whole of 2010.
After signing a first agreement with the Moroccan Union of Labor (UMT) on January 24, which established a mediation commission to prevent collective conflicts in companies, the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) is beginning to extend this mechanism for resolving social problems to other trade union organizations.
It has just signed a framework agreement for social mediation with the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT). This agreement, which involves all CGEM member companies and trade unions under the CDT, concerns the creation of a joint commission composed of representatives of both parties, which will be responsible for appointing mediators to find compromise solutions in the event of disputes between employers and employees.
Building Employer-Employee Trust
On this occasion, Noubir El Amaoui, Secretary General of the CDT, welcomed this agreement, which he considers a major trade union achievement that will give new impetus to trade union action and the country's economic development efforts. For the president of the CGEM, Mohamed Horani, this agreement is a first step that will help regain the trust of employees. "We are convinced that the agreement we signed today will play an important role in resolving social conflicts, which will facilitate the establishment of a trusting relationship between companies and employees," he emphasizes. "Conflicts are sometimes due to misunderstandings or unfounded causes, and resolution only requires a communication effort," he continues.
Considering the willingness of both parties to develop a consensus on all projects of national interest, to establish favorable conditions for workers in order to improve their productivity and strengthen their partnership in social mediation, this framework agreement will aim to establish a process of prevention and resolution of collective conflicts in the professional environment, for a better sustainability of the company and an undeniable preservation of the interests of workers.
Indeed, the social mediation commission will thus be tasked with handling and resolving social conflicts before they become complicated and creating a healthy climate within the company, allowing for consultation and ensuring profitability, quality and promotion for the benefit of both social partners. This commission is also required to meet every three months to review the achievements in mediation, whenever the situation requires such a meeting, or at the request of one of the parties involved in the aforementioned agreement.
Strikes: 2011, a Record Year
The number of strikes in Morocco has almost doubled in one year. Indeed, the year 2011 marked a very sharp increase in conflict in the world of work. In the first nine months of the year alone, the number of strikes recorded by the Ministry of Employment broke the record of the last ten years, reaching 356, compared to 241 for the whole of 2010. The number of working days lost for the entire year is around 250,000, compared to 77,277 five years ago. The number of establishments affected by these strikes amounted to 265 for the first nine months of 2011, compared to 194 in 2010, 185 in 2009, 179 in 2008 and 147 in 2007.
Hajjar El Haiti.
Le matin.ma
Published March 1, 2012.
Posted online March 9, 2012.
