The Moroccan textile and clothing industry has been the scene of many tragic incidents recently, drawing attention to the harsh realities workers face and the inadequate safety regulations in place.
Unsafe practices such as the use of gas-fired boilers have been blamed for fires in manufacturing facilities across Fez, Casablanca, and Tangier, resulting in deaths and serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
Unions are leading initiatives to address these challenges, with promising talks initiated with the Department of Labor showing progress on sustainable solutions.
The tragedies highlight growing concerns within Morocco’s burgeoning textile, clothing, and leather (TGSL) industry, which has seen rapid expansion to meet the demands of international brands. However, this growth has not been accompanied by improvements in workplace safety standards, leaving workers exposed to greater risks.
In an assertive move, SNTHC-CDT launched a campaign targeting deteriorating working conditions and inadequate safety measures. On 15 November, the union called for a national dialogue aimed at bringing together different groups to develop a strategy to improve health and safety within the TGSL sector.
The ongoing efforts of the union culminated in an important meeting with the Ministry of Labor in Rabat on 29 November. The meeting brought together important people including Hicham Sabri, secretary of state and general secretary of SNHC-CDT Ahmed Hassoun. Discussions focused on the critical need to improve occupational health and safety.
Ahmed Hassoun said: “The meeting was good as the minister saw SNHC-CDT’s request to hold a national debate involving all stakeholders in the sector.
“We also informed the minister about the ACCORD agreement and emphasized the importance of its implementation in Morocco. As a result, the Ministry decided to organize a meeting with representatives of ACCORD, IndustriALL, and SNTHC-CDT to further discuss the possibilities of using ACCORD in Morocco.”
The group criticized employers for not following existing health and safety laws and expressed disapproval of the subhuman working conditions prevalent in private institutions.
They urged the Ministry to end such practices and develop a comprehensive national strategy to enforce strict health and safety standards.
With the agreement from the Department to work with representatives of ACCORD and affiliated companies of IndustriALL and SNTHC-CDT, there is great hope to bring about major changes.
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