The Moroccan cabinet is close to reaching an agreement with labor unions, government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi revealed Thursday.
El Khalfi told reporters that arrangements are underway to reach a final agreement that would be announced by Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani in the next few days.
Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit has held a series of meetings with leaders of trade unions, which have been adamant to ask for a comprehensive salary raise.
Last January, the government assigned the minister to hold negotiations with the trade unions to reach a compromise on the wage dispute, on condition that any agreement between the two sides gets Othmani’s approval.
Laftit met Thursday with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises and the General Federation of Moroccan Workers to discuss a government proposal stipulating a wage increase of around 500 dirhams or $50 for employees below grade 5, in addition to $40 for those above this level.
The raise should be distributed in phases over 18 months, the first being in May, the second in January 2020 and the third in January 2021.
The government offer includes family allowances of around $10 for each child of the three first children.
The proposal also involves the private sector, through a 10 percent increase of the minimum wage of workers in the commercial, services, agricultural and industrial sectors.
Following a meeting with the interior minister and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, the Democratic Confederation of Labor said that the concerned parties agreed to continue their dialogue to reach a trilateral agreement after an arrangement to improve wages by May 1.
