UGTM May Day Message to Public and Private Sector Workers
2 May 2011
Read by 1523 persons
On the occasion of May 1st, Labor Day worldwide, the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM) sent a message to its members and the Moroccan working class in general. The message recalled the core principles of the pact it concluded with workers to defend their interests and their right to dignity, stable and motivating employment, safety, health, etc., while respecting the law and the reciprocal rights and obligations of employees and employers, whether public or private, in the service of stability and social peace in the country.
It then presents its balance sheet since the union's 9th congress in 2009, mainly regarding the implementation of union action, planning, management or organization, training, and strengthening professional relations through cultural activities, seminars and other study days on specific themes. It also covers the consolidation of its presence at regional, continental and international levels and its contribution to the promotion of union action and the defense of workers' interests and national causes at these levels.
Regarding its efforts to unify union action nationally, the UGTM insists, in particular, on the constitution of a "solid and united front" between the General Union, the Democratic Federation of Labor and the National Union of Labor, which works and negotiates jointly with the government and employers and which has obtained very significant results, including:
In the public sector: a net increase of 600 DH/month for civil servants, at all levels, from May 1, 2011; raising the internal promotion quota to 30% in 2011, raising this same quota to 3% in 2012; resolution of the problem of 2400 retirees by their integration at the end of 2011; resolution of the problems of employees of working capital funds; assistance to civil servants whose income does not exceed 5000 DH in accessing social housing at a low interest rate; not forgetting efforts to integrate young people in general and university graduates in particular, with the government initially agreeing to allocate a budget of one billion DH for their training and retraining.
In the private sector: a 10% salary increase in 2011 and 5% in 2012; a similar increase in the salaries of agricultural workers; and, above all, the gradual elimination of the Smag and its replacement by the Smig in the agricultural sector; the right to retirement for workers who have not accumulated a minimum of 3240 days of work; raising the threshold of retirement pensions to 1000 DH instead of the current 600; generalization of medical coverage and social assistance through various immediate measures; revision of the pension calculation system paid by the CNSS and elimination of the unfair rate currently set at 70% on only 6000 DH/month; access to social housing for all workers earning no more than 5000 DH/month. This is for purely material aspects.
In terms of moral gains, the UGTM welcomes the government's endorsement of several international conventions, mainly those of the International Labour Office (ILO) known as Nos. 87, 102 and 141, as well as the executive's commitment to repeal the infamous Article 288 of the Penal Code, to promulgate the implementing decrees relating to the Labor Code and to create a fund for job losses.
The message also recalls the UGTM's contribution to the national debate on constitutional reform and briefly highlights the union's main proposals on this subject, as well as its unwavering commitment to national constants and values and to the territorial integrity of Morocco.
Published April 30, 2011
Posted online May 2, 2011
lopinion.ma
It then presents its balance sheet since the union's 9th congress in 2009, mainly regarding the implementation of union action, planning, management or organization, training, and strengthening professional relations through cultural activities, seminars and other study days on specific themes. It also covers the consolidation of its presence at regional, continental and international levels and its contribution to the promotion of union action and the defense of workers' interests and national causes at these levels.
Regarding its efforts to unify union action nationally, the UGTM insists, in particular, on the constitution of a "solid and united front" between the General Union, the Democratic Federation of Labor and the National Union of Labor, which works and negotiates jointly with the government and employers and which has obtained very significant results, including:
In the public sector: a net increase of 600 DH/month for civil servants, at all levels, from May 1, 2011; raising the internal promotion quota to 30% in 2011, raising this same quota to 3% in 2012; resolution of the problem of 2400 retirees by their integration at the end of 2011; resolution of the problems of employees of working capital funds; assistance to civil servants whose income does not exceed 5000 DH in accessing social housing at a low interest rate; not forgetting efforts to integrate young people in general and university graduates in particular, with the government initially agreeing to allocate a budget of one billion DH for their training and retraining.
In the private sector: a 10% salary increase in 2011 and 5% in 2012; a similar increase in the salaries of agricultural workers; and, above all, the gradual elimination of the Smag and its replacement by the Smig in the agricultural sector; the right to retirement for workers who have not accumulated a minimum of 3240 days of work; raising the threshold of retirement pensions to 1000 DH instead of the current 600; generalization of medical coverage and social assistance through various immediate measures; revision of the pension calculation system paid by the CNSS and elimination of the unfair rate currently set at 70% on only 6000 DH/month; access to social housing for all workers earning no more than 5000 DH/month. This is for purely material aspects.
In terms of moral gains, the UGTM welcomes the government's endorsement of several international conventions, mainly those of the International Labour Office (ILO) known as Nos. 87, 102 and 141, as well as the executive's commitment to repeal the infamous Article 288 of the Penal Code, to promulgate the implementing decrees relating to the Labor Code and to create a fund for job losses.
The message also recalls the UGTM's contribution to the national debate on constitutional reform and briefly highlights the union's main proposals on this subject, as well as its unwavering commitment to national constants and values and to the territorial integrity of Morocco.
Published April 30, 2011
Posted online May 2, 2011
lopinion.ma
