Moroccan Unions Accused of Neglecting Local Government Employees' Demands

The Moroccan Association of Local Government Employees has voiced strong dissatisfaction with the country's leading labor unions, the Democratic Confederation of Labour (CDT) and the Moroccan Union of Labour (UMT). In an urgent protest letter, the association accuses these unions of neglecting the legitimate demands of local government employees and subserviently following the dictates of the Ministry of Interior. This perceived lack of independence and genuine action by the unions has sparked serious doubts among the employees about their representatives' commitment.

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urgent protest letter

The association specifically criticized the CDT's negotiation approach, stating that it accepts the Ministry of Interior's proposals without any real struggle or adherence to the core demands of the employees. This, they argue, has turned the union into a tool that merely aligns with the ministry's agenda, questioning the autonomy of the union's decision-making process. The protest letter also highlighted the rejection of two agreements signed in December 2019 and June 2025 by local government employees, who deemed them to contain no significant gains and to fail in addressing their fair demands, likening the signing to a blank check for the Ministry of Interior.

Similarly, the association expressed its discontent with the UMT, denouncing the "unjustified marginalization" of local government employees within the union. The document further condemned the "utter failure" of the sectoral dialogue concerning local governments, which has been stalled for years due to procrastination. The association lamented that the UMT has not taken any commensurate action, allowing the Ministry of Interior to unilaterally impose its will and utilize unions lacking true legal representation to push through unfair outcomes.

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marginalization of the demands of local government employees

Adding to the concerns, Hassan Ben El-Badali, president of the National Association of Local Government Employees and Delegated Management, revealed that the draft basic statute for local government employees, which was delayed due to the General Secretariat of the Government deeming it legally unsuitable, did not include most of the employees' demands. He stated that this draft was presented to union representatives as a fait accompli, which they accepted without proper scrutiny, only for its deficiencies to become apparent later.

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lack of genuine struggle and compliance with the Ministry of Interior's directives

However, union leaders have pushed back against these accusations. They argue that the association's letter reflects a poor understanding of union work and an unreasonable refusal to acknowledge the efforts made by sectoral unions in advocating for employees' demands. A senior source within the National Union of Local Government Employees and Delegated Management stated that the association lacks the authority to represent local government employees and is instead pursuing narrow, factional interests that cannot be generalized to all employees.

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reflects a lack of awareness and an unreasonable refusal to recognize the union work