In a significant move toward enhancing labor rights, Moroccan lawmakers are currently reviewing a proposed bill aimed at reducing the lengthy working hours of private security guards. This initiative marks a pivotal shift in the country’s labor regulations, as it seeks to align the private security sector with standard labor laws that govern other professions.
The proposed legislation, known as Bill No. 032.26, was introduced on Wednesday during a session of the House of Councillors’ Committee on Education, Cultural Affairs, and Social Affairs. This bill aims to amend the existing Labor Code, specifically targeting the legal loophole that permits private security personnel to work shifts of up to 12 hours without proper overtime compensation.
Currently, private security guards are categorized as workers with intermittent duties, which allows employers to impose long working hours while calculating wages based on an eight-hour workday. The new amendment seeks to reclassify these workers, thereby subjecting them to the standard working hours outlined in Article 184 of the Labor Code. If passed, the legislation will apply only to employment contracts signed after the law's enactment, providing existing contracts with a transition period of up to 12 months to adapt to the new regulations.
Younes Sekkouri, the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, emphasized the importance of the proposed bill, highlighting that it is a long-awaited reform for tens of thousands of workers in the sector. He asserted that this initiative is part of broader efforts to promote decent work conditions and strengthen labor rights within the country.
According to parliamentary adviser Hanaa Benkhair from the General Union of Workers in Morocco, the private security sector employs approximately 170,000 workers in the public domain and around 500,000 in the private sector. She pointed out the vulnerabilities faced by this workforce, noting that many do not receive the minimum wage and some remain unregistered with the National Social Security Fund.
During discussions, lawmakers from various political factions expressed strong support for the reform, although some participants cautioned about the necessity of balancing workers’ rights with the economic constraints that security companies may experience. The committee discussions also highlighted broader issues, such as adherence to labor laws, registration for social security, and the need for protections against exploitative practices that could undermine the newly proposed rights. Concerns were raised that reducing working hours should not serve as a pretext for lowering wages.
The committee has set a deadline for submitting amendments to the bill, with discussions scheduled for the following Monday to review these changes before advancing the legislation through the remaining parliamentary stages.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
