Real Employment Policy
13 October 2011
Read by 1397 persons
Proposition by the CGEM of a roadmap for the next 24 months, defining the responsibilities of the three actors in the job market: State, businesses, and social partners.
Under an eloquent title: "Employment, no defeat allowed", during a press conference organized yesterday in Casablanca, the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) wanted to draw a cautious but pragmatic "social" assessment. As much as business leaders welcome the achievements of the Professional Integration Contract and the exemption for one year of CNSS contributions (this system will be operational from October 15, 2011), they remain skeptical about the implementation of the 18 other measures planned by the National Pact for Employment. "It's better than nothing and we can do better," stresses Jamal Belahrach, president of the Employment and Social Relations commission of the CGEM. The message is clearly addressed to the next government and indirectly to the political parties that are finalizing their electoral programs.
The CGEM proposes a precise roadmap for the next 12 months and another for the following year. In the short term, it wants to finish with three files that are dragging on despite their priority nature: one, the law on the right to strike, which is supposed to provide for a notice period for the employer, thus giving every chance to the implementation of a conciliation or arbitration procedure. Two, the implementation of unemployment benefits (voted in 2004). The CGEM says it is ready to contribute to such an unemployment insurance system, but within the framework of a balanced agreement with an employer's share capped at 0.38% of the payroll. The UBI is slow to materialize since the question of the system's sustainability is still being asked based on a seed fund limited to 250 million DH, an amount mobilized by the Prime Minister's Office. Three, a reform of retirement schemes without forcing the private sector to finance the deficit of public funds. The CGEM defends the scenario of a general basic scheme coupled with two other distinct complementary branches (public-private).
In the medium term, the employers' proposals address the heart of the problem, or even the real causes of structural unemployment in Morocco. "The world has changed, society has evolved, but not our way of thinking about the economy and even employment," says Jamal Belahrach. It is necessary, he says, to think about employment in economic and not social terms, to rethink our logic and adapt to the market economy. How? "We must define the responsibilities of each of the three major actors," he adds. No more "tax and social delinquency", businesses must absolutely pay their taxes and social security contributions. Its only vocation is to invest sustainably, create wealth and, consequently, employment.
For its part, the State is called upon to assume its sovereign functions (education, training, fair competition rules, an income policy that places the debate on the minimum wage within a global social protection model). Finally, for their part, social partners must participate in the construction of an employment policy by promoting a permanent and constructive social dialogue. In its current form, the president of the Employment commission believes that social dialogue has become obsolete, like a "chamber for registering grievances". The CGEM advocates a two-level dialogue, one with the State dealing with macroeconomic issues; the other more direct and followed daily with the unions.
Clearly, Jamal Belahrach dreams of following the German model characterized by a remarkable consensus between employees and employers. And between dream and reality, there is hope and also the urgency to reduce the unemployment rate in Morocco, especially among young people.
Figures that are striking
Beyond the overall unemployment rate announced by the HCP at the end of the first quarter of 2011, namely 9.1% compared to 10% a year earlier, the president of the CGEM Social Commission draws attention to the scale of the phenomenon among young people. Indeed, the unemployment rate among young people reaches 28.5% and 80% of the unemployed are aged 15 to 29 (knowing that 65% of Moroccans are under 35 years old).
Finally, the activity rate stands at 50% in Morocco compared to a world average of around 64%. In Asia, this rate exceeds 70%.
Lematin.ma
Published October 10, 2011.
Posted online October 13, 2011.
Under an eloquent title: "Employment, no defeat allowed", during a press conference organized yesterday in Casablanca, the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) wanted to draw a cautious but pragmatic "social" assessment. As much as business leaders welcome the achievements of the Professional Integration Contract and the exemption for one year of CNSS contributions (this system will be operational from October 15, 2011), they remain skeptical about the implementation of the 18 other measures planned by the National Pact for Employment. "It's better than nothing and we can do better," stresses Jamal Belahrach, president of the Employment and Social Relations commission of the CGEM. The message is clearly addressed to the next government and indirectly to the political parties that are finalizing their electoral programs.
The CGEM proposes a precise roadmap for the next 12 months and another for the following year. In the short term, it wants to finish with three files that are dragging on despite their priority nature: one, the law on the right to strike, which is supposed to provide for a notice period for the employer, thus giving every chance to the implementation of a conciliation or arbitration procedure. Two, the implementation of unemployment benefits (voted in 2004). The CGEM says it is ready to contribute to such an unemployment insurance system, but within the framework of a balanced agreement with an employer's share capped at 0.38% of the payroll. The UBI is slow to materialize since the question of the system's sustainability is still being asked based on a seed fund limited to 250 million DH, an amount mobilized by the Prime Minister's Office. Three, a reform of retirement schemes without forcing the private sector to finance the deficit of public funds. The CGEM defends the scenario of a general basic scheme coupled with two other distinct complementary branches (public-private).
In the medium term, the employers' proposals address the heart of the problem, or even the real causes of structural unemployment in Morocco. "The world has changed, society has evolved, but not our way of thinking about the economy and even employment," says Jamal Belahrach. It is necessary, he says, to think about employment in economic and not social terms, to rethink our logic and adapt to the market economy. How? "We must define the responsibilities of each of the three major actors," he adds. No more "tax and social delinquency", businesses must absolutely pay their taxes and social security contributions. Its only vocation is to invest sustainably, create wealth and, consequently, employment.
For its part, the State is called upon to assume its sovereign functions (education, training, fair competition rules, an income policy that places the debate on the minimum wage within a global social protection model). Finally, for their part, social partners must participate in the construction of an employment policy by promoting a permanent and constructive social dialogue. In its current form, the president of the Employment commission believes that social dialogue has become obsolete, like a "chamber for registering grievances". The CGEM advocates a two-level dialogue, one with the State dealing with macroeconomic issues; the other more direct and followed daily with the unions.
Clearly, Jamal Belahrach dreams of following the German model characterized by a remarkable consensus between employees and employers. And between dream and reality, there is hope and also the urgency to reduce the unemployment rate in Morocco, especially among young people.
Figures that are striking
Beyond the overall unemployment rate announced by the HCP at the end of the first quarter of 2011, namely 9.1% compared to 10% a year earlier, the president of the CGEM Social Commission draws attention to the scale of the phenomenon among young people. Indeed, the unemployment rate among young people reaches 28.5% and 80% of the unemployed are aged 15 to 29 (knowing that 65% of Moroccans are under 35 years old).
Finally, the activity rate stands at 50% in Morocco compared to a world average of around 64%. In Asia, this rate exceeds 70%.
Lematin.ma
Published October 10, 2011.
Posted online October 13, 2011.
