Morocco’s PM Akhannouch says social dialogue is long‑term reform pillar

Morocco’s head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, said Friday in Rabat that social dialogue with labor and social partners is a core, long‑term reform pillar^[1].

The pledge matters because sustained dialogue is the government’s chosen mechanism to steer economic reforms, address workers’ concerns and avoid disruptive strikes—issues that have rattled the kingdom’s markets in recent years, making it a clear political strategy rather than a stop‑gap measure^[2].

Akhannouch said the policy is “a long‑term policy choice rather than a temporary response to economic pressures,” echoing remarks made at the second National Teachers’ Forum, which he highlighted as part of broader social partnership efforts^[3]. He said, “We view negotiations with labor and social partners as a long‑term policy choice rather than a temporary response to economic pressures,” underscoring the administration’s commitment to institutionalized talks.

The government’s focus on teachers reflects its broader reform agenda. “Putting teachers at the heart of the country's education transformation is a clear political choice of the government,” Akhannouch said, linking education reform to the same dialogue framework that guides labor policy.

Akhannouch said that social dialogue is not a cyclical commitment. “The government has never approached social dialogue as a mere cyclical commitment, but rather as a clear political choice,” he said, reinforcing the message that these negotiations will persist beyond any single economic cycle.

Analysts note that framing social dialogue as a long‑term pillar could improve investor confidence and provide a predictable environment for both domestic and foreign businesses. By institutionalizing talks with unions and professional groups, the government aims to pre‑empt labor unrest and align reforms with stakeholder expectations, a move that may stabilize Morocco’s reform trajectory.

**What this means**: Positioning social dialogue as a permanent feature of Morocco’s reform strategy signals a shift toward more predictable governance. If the approach holds, it could reduce the frequency of strikes, smooth the implementation of economic and educational reforms, and bolster confidence among investors and international partners.