Benkirane 'Wouldn't Add a Cent' to Employee Wages if He Was in Charge
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Loading... - Sabrina Jabal
- 13 May 2022
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Abdelilah Benkirane, the Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) has publicly criticized Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch for his recently announced plan to boost wages for public sector employees and raise the minimum wage for specific industries.
The plan is part of the Moroccan government's decision to approve a series of measures to reform the country’s labor law.
Under the reform, Morocco seeks to raise the legal minimum wage for workers in the trade, industry, and service sector by 10%.
The government also plans to raise the minimum wage of workers within the public sector to MAD 3,500 ($351) after taxes.
For former Head of Government Benkirane, the approach is not in line with the current situation marked by the financial crisis.
During a recent regional conference of the opposition PJD in the Daraa region, Benkirane said that he would not have taken such decisions under the recent circumstances.
“If I was a Head of Government, I would not add a cent to your wages. I am sorry, I know that most of the attendees are employees. But the situation is severe and it requires savings to address what is coming in the future,“ he said.
He said that if he has to increase someone’s wages, it would be “those in need. those who get a small amount of money.”
Benkirane served as a head of government from November 2011 to April 2017 when the PJD Party won the majority of votes during government elections.
PJD lost its popularity during the 2021 elections, where it was outperformed by their former coalition partner, the Rally of Independents Party (RNI) led by Morocco’s richest man Aziz Akhannouch.
The billionaire’s party won the majority of votes and formed a coalition with Al Istiqlal and the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).
The new government, however, has faced criticism from several sides, particularly from Benkirane.
In April, Benkirane appeared in a Facebook live broadcast responding to Akhannouch’s remarks that accused the PJD of having failed to preempt the country’s crises.
Akhannouch said the PJD expects the new government to do what they themselves couldn't do in a period of 10 years.
“Are you sure about what you are accusing people of, or you are just throwing claims for the sake of it?” Benkirane said.
Benkirane also slammed Akhannouch for saying that his government does not have a magic wand to resolve the crisis. Read More...
