Moroccan healthcare unions pause strike amid progress on July agreement

Morocco's healthcare sector saw a significant shift as national union coordinators suspended their planned strike, choosing instead to focus on implementing the existing July 23, 2024 agreement with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

The decision followed a productive meeting in Rabat between union representatives and ministry officials, where both parties reviewed the progress of the agreement's implementation. Union coordinators emphasized the importance of executing already-negotiated terms rather than reopening discussions.

The ministry has confirmed ongoing advancement in implementing the agreement, with multiple decrees at various stages of completion. A key commitment includes ensuring healthcare professionals' salaries will be funded through the state's general budget while maintaining their civil servant status.

Financial provisions in the agreement include a monthly net increase of MAD 500 ($50) for nursing staff and MAD 200 ($20) for administrative and technical personnel, scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025. These increases will complement previous raises established in the April 2024 agreement.

Looking ahead, the ministry has scheduled two important meetings: a February 12 session to discuss a specific healthcare program work allowance, and a February 25 workshop focused on healthcare personnel status.

The unions have outlined several priorities, including protecting healthcare professionals' civil servant rights, securing state-funded salaries, and implementing a regular text-alert system for transfers and appointments. Additional focus areas include career advancement opportunities and establishing a new grade scale within the retirement reform framework.

Union coordinators expressed appreciation to all parties involved in advancing the agreement, viewing it as an essential step toward enhancing working conditions and strengthening Morocco's national healthcare system. The suspension of strike actions reflects a collaborative approach to addressing sector challenges while awaiting the ministry's full implementation of the latest agreement's provisions.