Education Criteria Puts Hospital Security Guards at Risk of Unemployment
In the regions of Fes-Meknes and the East, approximately 180 private security guards are facing the looming threat of homelessness and unemployment. This distress arises from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection's recent policy change that mandates educational qualifications (either completion of ninth grade or a high school diploma) for employment. The decision has sparked considerable discontent among the union representatives who advocate for these workers, leading to urgent calls for the immediate reversal of any measures resulting in the dismissal or exclusion of security personnel due to educational requirements.
The National Federation of Private Security, Cleaning, and Cooking Workers, affiliated with the Democratic Confederation of Labor, has formally reached out to the Minister of Health, Ameen Al-Tahrawi, demanding an immediate cessation of the exclusion and dismissal of private security guards from public hospitals. In their correspondence, the union underscored that retroactively imposing educational qualifications on workers, thus leading to their dismissal and potential homelessness, raises serious concerns regarding professional and social stability. They urge the ministry to engage in responsible, serious discussions with worker representatives instead of placing the burden solely on employees for conditions that were not in effect when they were hired.
Lubna Najib, the general secretary of the National Federation, has pointed out that the sector is imposing strict educational requirements on workers, necessitating at least a ninth-grade level or in some cases, a high school diploma. Despite organizing protests, the union has seen little to no response or engagement from relevant authorities regarding this pressing issue. As a result, workers are preparing to stage a sit-in outside the Ministry of Health, exacerbating the crisis as the new school year approaches. Many find themselves unemployed without receiving their rightful salaries or any compensation, only to be replaced by other companies, despite having dedicated years of service, some spanning over 16 to 20 years within these hospitals.
According to Najib, statistics from the union reveal that around 150 workers have been terminated in the Fes-Meknes region alone, which includes areas such as Sefrou, Moulay Yacoub, El Hajeb, Ifrane, and Azrou. Additionally, approximately 30 workers have been affected in the Salé area. It is essential to note that these figures only reflect those affiliated with the Democratic Confederation of Labor, and the total number of affected individuals may be significantly higher.
Najib emphasized that the situation involves regional contracts with national conditions, often awarded to one or two major companies to manage entire regions, as seen in the eastern region and now in Fes-Meknes, with the potential for similar conditions to extend to other areas like Rabat-Salé and Casablanca.
As reported by madar21.com.
