Port Cargo Transporters to Strike From Sept. 14 Over Unresolved Industry Problems

Cargo transport professionals working at Moroccan ports say they will stop work from Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in protest against problems they say continue to weigh heavily on companies in the sector.

In a notice sent to the head of government, the professional groups said authorities had failed to address demands raised earlier. Their main complaint concerns the withholding of value-added tax at source. They said the 75% rate is putting further pressure on companies’ cash flow while transport operating costs continue to rise.

The groups also criticized the program supporting fleet renewal and the scrapping of older vehicles, arguing that the financial assistance remains insufficient. They pointed to another dispute over how VAT is calculated within the support payments. According to the groups, tax authorities have asked some beneficiary companies to repay VAT linked to funds they had already received. They said this left several companies in what they considered an irregular tax position and prevented them from obtaining tax-clearance certificates.

Transport professionals are also calling for a review of diesel support. They said the current amount, around 50 centimes per liter, does not cover the sector’s costs and urged the government to increase it and pay it monthly and regularly. They further accused the relevant ministries of failing to hold serious and responsible discussions with industry representatives, saying unilateral decisions made without their participation were deepening the sector’s problems.

The groups said the stoppage would continue from Sept. 14 until the government opens what they called “serious and responsible” talks and responds to their demands, which they described as legitimate.

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serious and responsible