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Younes Sekkouri defends employment record amid skeptical opposition
via Le Matin6 min read
Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, defended the government's employment record against opposition skepticism, highlighting upcoming labor code amendments and social dialogue achievements. He announced that before May 1st, the Government Council will adopt an amendment to the Labor Code, reducing the work week from 12 to 8 hours. This change is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of private security, cleaning, and catering agents, and potentially 400,000 to 500,000 intermittent workers. Employers will have six to twelve months to comply, with a strict ban on new 12-hour contracts after promulgation. The estimated budgetary cost is a 40-50% increase in payroll in affected sectors, shared by the state and private sector. Sekkouri also detailed the social achievements of the legislature, stating that commitments from the tripartite social dialogue will reach 49.7 billion dirhams by 2027. This includes a 1,000 dirham general increase for public sector employees and nearly 18 billion dirhams for national education, with salary revaluations and the integration of 100,000 primary teachers. The non-agricultural hourly minimum wage has increased from 14.81 DH to 17.9 DH since 2021. However, Sekkouri acknowledged a "serious problem of effectiveness" regarding sanctions against non-compliant employers, with penalties capped at 20,000 dirhams annually for a single infraction, suggesting a need for stricter regulations and a reform
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
The Moroccan national football team played to a 1-1 draw against Norway in a friendly match held on Sunday at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey. National coach Mohamed Ouahbi's lineup featured Diop and Raid in central defense, with Hakimi on the right and Mazraoui on the left. Hakimi was replaced in the 29th minute by Belamri due to an injury. The midfield included Bouaddi, El Aynaoui, and Ounahi, while Saibari played as a false nine, supported by Diaz and Ezzalzouli. Brahim Diaz opened the scoring for Morocco in the 7th minute. Norway equalized in the 75th minute with a goal from captain Ødegaard. This match was the Atlas Lions' final friendly before their World Cup opener against Brazil on June 13. Morocco is in Group C, alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.
The first Marrakech Comedy Festival concluded after three days of performances, laughter, and interactions, confirming the Moroccan public's enthusiasm for comedy. Held at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, the event brought together Moroccan and Francophone comedians to establish a new cultural event dedicated to comedy in the city. The opening night, directed by comedian Eko, featured an Arabophone gala that was sold out and immersed the audience in a world blending Moroccan traditions, self-deprecation, and social commentary. The show highlighted a new generation of Moroccan comedians while celebrating popular local figures, with a stage design inspired by Jamaa El Fna square. Eko, dressed as a "guerrab" and accompanied by the Bola Bola Dekka Marrakchia troupe and DJ Red Supa, launched the evening with a mix of music, humor, and Moroccan cultural references. He introduced artists like Amine Belghazi, Soufiane Figuigui, Ghita Kitane, Seifeddine Settif, Marouane Nbalsi, Ahmed Boudrouze, and Azzedine Fetouhi, each presenting their unique styles. A highlight was the appearance of Franco-Moroccan comedian Malik Bentalha, who shared segments with Eko, incorporating references to Moroccan culture. Organizers noted that the opening night exceeded expectations, with tickets selling out weeks in advance. Karim Debbouze, producer and co-founder of the festival with Malik Bentalha, stated that this successful launch is a significant step in establishing a long-term event. The festiv
Must ReadRachid Yazami, a world-renowned Moroccan electrochemist and inventor of the graphite anode for lithium-ion batteries, believes Morocco has significant advantages to become a major player in the global electric battery industry. Speaking from Singapore, Yazami highlighted Morocco's phosphate reserves, strategic geographical location, free trade agreements, established automotive industry, and skilled workforce as key assets. He emphasized that the global energy transition is a strategic necessity, driven by rising fossil fuel costs and geopolitical tensions, making countries capable of producing and storing energy better equipped for future shocks. Yazami sees the rise of LFP lithium, iron, phosphate battery technology as a major opportunity for Morocco, provided the country moves beyond raw material export to industrial transformation. He cited the upcoming gigafactory in Kenitra, a joint venture with Gotion High-Tech, as a historic turning point, fulfilling his 2014 prediction for a Moroccan lithium-ion battery plant. This factory, the first of its kind in Africa and the Middle East, could establish a new industrial sector for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Yazami stressed the critical importance of quality in battery production to compete with global leaders like China, Korea, and Japan. He expressed confidence in Moroccan engineers and technicians, foreseeing the development of fully Moroccan-owned gigafactories by 2032. Geopolitically, Morocco's strategic