28
Dec 2024
7:23 UTC
Morocco: CNTM to hold protest at Rabat’s Bab el-Had Square on December 29; maintain heightened vigilance
Current Situation:
- The National Council of the National Organization of Technicians in Morocco (CNTM) has called for a protest scheduled to take place at Bab el-Had Square in Rabat on December 29, from 10:00 (local time).
- The demonstration aims to denounce the recently approved strike law and the finance bill for 2025, in which segments of retired public servants are removed from receiving tax exemptions.
- Additionally, the CNTM has called for a series of 24-hour nationwide strikes, planned for every Wednesday throughout January 2025.
- The organization voiced concerns over low wages for technicians and demanded the reimbursement of funds allegedly “unlawfully” deducted from the salaries of technicians exercising their constitutional right to strike.
- The CNTM presented a list of demands, including formal dialogue with the National Authority for Technicians in Morocco, revisions to classification scales for technicians, and wage increases.
- Some technicians will continue to work to maintain emergency services.
Source: CNTM
Assessment & Forecast:
- This development occurs against the backdrop of Morocco’s ongoing economic challenges, including increasing costs of living. Through the 2025 Finance Bill, the government intends to introduce reforms to broaden the tax base by including previously exempt categories, including segments of the retired public servants. On December 4, the Moroccan Parliament passed a new law to codify the legal framework surrounding the right to strike in Morocco. Both pieces of legislation have faced significant criticism from the public. The removal of tax exemptions for retirees is likely to intensify their socio-economic grievances by limiting their income amid rising prices. Similarly, the strike law has faced criticism for allegedly restricting unions’ ability to organize strikes. These developments have likely heightened public dissatisfaction and elevated anti-government sentiment in Morocco.
- FORECAST: The upcoming demonstration is expected to mobilize a turnout in the high dozens to low hundreds at least. Given the central location of the protest and its proximity to the Parliament in Rabat, a heightened security presence is anticipated around Bab el-Had Square and the Parliament. Security forces will intervene if demonstrators are perceived as behaving in an unruly fashion. While the demonstration is expected to remain peaceful, the possibility of localized unrest cannot be ruled out. Traffic disruptions may be recorded in the vicinity of the Parliament area during the morning hours.
- FORECAST: Given precedent, the government is likely to engage in negotiations with unions in a bid to postpone or cancel the upcoming protest and strikes in January to minimize disruptions. These negotiations may subsequently potentially result in the delay or cancellation of some planned strikes.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Morocco in Rabat on December 29 advised to maintain heightened vigilance and allot for disruptions near Bab el-Had Square due to the slated protest and associated risk of unrest.
- Those operating or residing in Morocco on December 29 and in the coming weeks are advised to allot for disruptions due to the planned weekly strikes in January 2025.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Medium
AFFECTED AREA
Bab el-Had Square, Rabat
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Confirmed
Current Situation:
- The National Council of the National Organization of Technicians in Morocco (CNTM) has called for a protest scheduled to take place at Bab el-Had Square in Rabat on December 29, from 10:00 (local time).
- The demonstration aims to denounce the recently approved strike law and the finance bill for 2025, in which segments of retired public servants are removed from receiving tax exemptions.
- Additionally, the CNTM has called for a series of 24-hour nationwide strikes, planned for every Wednesday throughout January 2025.
- The organization voiced concerns over low wages for technicians and demanded the reimbursement of funds allegedly “unlawfully” deducted from the salaries of technicians exercising their constitutional right to strike.
- The CNTM presented a list of demands, including formal dialogue with the National Authority for Technicians in Morocco, revisions to classification scales for technicians, and wage increases.
- Some technicians will continue to work to maintain emergency services.
Source: CNTM
Assessment & Forecast:
- This development occurs against the backdrop of Morocco’s ongoing economic challenges, including increasing costs of living. Through the 2025 Finance Bill, the government intends to introduce reforms to broaden the tax base by including previously exempt categories, including segments of the retired public servants. On December 4, the Moroccan Parliament passed a new law to codify the legal framework surrounding the right to strike in Morocco. Both pieces of legislation have faced significant criticism from the public. The removal of tax exemptions for retirees is likely to intensify their socio-economic grievances by limiting their income amid rising prices. Similarly, the strike law has faced criticism for allegedly restricting unions’ ability to organize strikes. These developments have likely heightened public dissatisfaction and elevated anti-government sentiment in Morocco.
- FORECAST: The upcoming demonstration is expected to mobilize a turnout in the high dozens to low hundreds at least. Given the central location of the protest and its proximity to the Parliament in Rabat, a heightened security presence is anticipated around Bab el-Had Square and the Parliament. Security forces will intervene if demonstrators are perceived as behaving in an unruly fashion. While the demonstration is expected to remain peaceful, the possibility of localized unrest cannot be ruled out. Traffic disruptions may be recorded in the vicinity of the Parliament area during the morning hours.
- FORECAST: Given precedent, the government is likely to engage in negotiations with unions in a bid to postpone or cancel the upcoming protest and strikes in January to minimize disruptions. These negotiations may subsequently potentially result in the delay or cancellation of some planned strikes.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Morocco in Rabat on December 29 advised to maintain heightened vigilance and allot for disruptions near Bab el-Had Square due to the slated protest and associated risk of unrest.
- Those operating or residing in Morocco on December 29 and in the coming weeks are advised to allot for disruptions due to the planned weekly strikes in January 2025.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Medium
AFFECTED AREA
Bab el-Had Square, Rabat
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Confirmed
Related Reports
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ProtestMorocco Tactical: Student union to hold protest in front of Parliament in Rabat at 19:00 on February 22; maintain heightened vigilance -
ProtestMorocco Tactical: Pro-Palestinian protest slated in Rabat at 17:30 (local time) on February 21; maintain heightened vigilance
-
Labor ActionMorocco Tactical: Strike by truck drivers ongoing at Port of Casablanca till February 20; allot for disruptions -
ProtestMorocco Tactical: Protest slated in front of Ministry of Education in Rabat at 10:30 (local time) on February 18; maintain heightened vigilance
Related Reports
Morocco
-
ProtestMorocco Tactical: Student union to hold protest in front of Parliament in Rabat at 19:00 on February 22; maintain heightened vigilance
-
ProtestMorocco Tactical: Pro-Palestinian protest slated in Rabat at 17:30 (local time) on February 21; maintain heightened vigilance
-
Labor ActionMorocco Tactical: Strike by truck drivers ongoing at Port of Casablanca till February 20; allot for disruptions
-
ProtestMorocco Tactical: Protest slated in front of Ministry of Education in Rabat at 10:30 (local time) on February 18; maintain heightened vigilance