Crisis in Fes Courts: Structural Shortages Push Justice Employees to the Brink
The judicial district of Fes is currently experiencing an unprecedented level of professional tension, prompting union representatives for court employees to sound the alarm about deteriorating working conditions that they describe as "catastrophic." This simmering tension has erupted into the public sphere, with the Democratic Justice Union announcing a warning protest scheduled for next Tuesday. This demonstration aims to express the judicial workers' rejection of the exhausting policies imposed by a stark lack of human resources, contrasted against a staggering increase in the number of cases and files.
The roots of this crisis, according to the union's assessment of the field realities, stem from structural changes that have not been accompanied by adequate administrative staff reinforcements. The decision to eliminate commercial and administrative courts in Meknes and transfer thousands of their files to Fes has overwhelmed the judicial services in the scientific capital, exacerbating the pressure. Not only that, the transfer of appellate chamber cases from primary courts to the Court of Appeal further widened the gap between the volume of work being done and the number of available staff, leading to a clear imbalance in the work environment and directly affecting the quality of services provided to the public.
In the daily struggle faced by employees, the situation at the Commercial Court's registry in Fes starkly exemplifies this malfunction. Few employees are forced to perform tasks that were previously distributed among four accountants, compelling them to work long hours under immense psychological and physical strain. Serious concerns have also been raised regarding "information and legal security," as the union criticized the reliance on external elements, such as trainees from "rehabilitation programs," granting them access to sensitive information systems. This practice represents a blatant breach that threatens the confidentiality of judicial data, especially in light of the acute shortage of support staff, which has caused significant disruption in the exchange of files between departments.
Occupational safety has not been overlooked in the list of demands, with the Ministry of Justice being held responsible for the risks faced by accountants during the transfer of funds in conditions that lack the most basic safety standards. Faced with this impasse in seeking solutions, the employees have decided to escalate their protests, which will begin with a demonstration in the lobby of the Commercial Court in Fes on April 28, sending a preliminary message to the concerned authorities. They are also hinting at further escalation during the May 1 demonstrations in Meknes, reaffirming their commitment to their rights and rejecting policies that undermine professional achievements and perpetuate the current situation.
As reported by ardbladi.com.
