Morocco Slashes Daily Work Hours for Private Security Guards to 8 Hours

In a move celebrated by private security guards across the nation, the Moroccan government has announced a significant reduction in daily working hours. Effective from the upcoming social dialogue round, guards will see their shifts shortened from a demanding 12 hours to a more manageable 8 hours per day.

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The government delivers good news to security guards.

This decision, hailed as "good news" by Hespress, comes after years of advocacy and is seen as a courageous step by Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Younes Sekkouri. He noted that despite the potential 50% increase in financial costs associated with this change, the government, in agreement with unions and employer federations, has decided to amend the labor code, ending a more than twenty-year-old exception that mandated 12-hour shifts for private security personnel.

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This courageous decision puts an end to an injustice that has lasted for many years, despite the additional financial cost of approximately 50 percent.

From Morocco's perspective, this is a landmark achievement in labor rights. The article highlights the long-standing "injustice" that has been rectified. While international news might focus on broader economic trends, this story resonates deeply within Morocco, showcasing the government's commitment to improving working conditions for a vital sector of the workforce. The successful negotiation between the government, unions, and employer organizations (like the CGEM and COMADER) demonstrates a mature social dialogue process, aiming for a balance between worker welfare and economic sustainability. This move is not just about reducing hours; it's about recognizing the dignity and rights of security guards, who play a crucial role in the country's safety and stability.

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The meeting concluded with an agreement between the government, unions, and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER), stipulating the amendment of the labor code and the end of an exception that lasted more than twenty years, which imposed on private security guards the system of 12 hours.