Agadir 24 | Agadir24
Bodies representing the sector of road transport of goods for third parties announced the postponement of the national strike, which was scheduled to take place on Monday, October 28, due to its coincidence with the visit of the President of the French Republic to Morocco.
A statement by the bodies affiliated with the Federation of National Transport and Logistics Associations stated that it was decided to postpone this strike, which comes in protest against the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, “in respect of the established norms within the framework of official visits by state leaders.”
The same bodies confirmed that the reasons for this protest move still exist, mainly including “the continued stagnation of road transport support by the government, and dissatisfaction with the outcomes of the sectoral dialogue between the former minister, Mohamed Abdel Jalil, and the unions.”
In response to this issue, professionals revealed that they “do not want to disturb the atmosphere for the government and the ministry in charge of the sector as it receives its French counterparts,” stressing that “organizing the strike on the previously scheduled date will not have any result, because the ministry in charge of the sector will be busy on that date.” “.
They stressed that the failure to meet their demands is “the reason for this postponed strike,” especially “the issue of government support for road transport, which has stopped since May, and the various problems that professionals face while carrying out their work.”
In their comment on the government amendment that led to the change of the minister supervising the sector, they stated that they viewed the change of Minister Muhammad Abd al-Jalil by Abd al-Samad Qiuh with “a lot of caution,” especially since “the Prime Minister seemed to understand the problems of the sector, and met with them to discuss them, compared to the previous periods.” “The first time he seemed unaware of some of the laws.”
Despite this, the professionals stressed that they “do not care about names as much as they care about the ministerial sector in general, which remains the basis for discussing the outstanding issues,” expressing their hopes that the new minister will interact with the problems at hand and find meaningful solutions to them.
It should be noted that the unions had submitted a file of demands to the ministry in charge of the sector, which includes, in particular, “settling the status of trucks whose total weight ranges between 3.5 and 19 tons, accelerating work on the shipping statement and the reference cost with the measurement, repairing rest areas and creating new ones on the outskirts of cities.” Equipped with cameras and bathrooms.”
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Interview with Mr. Ahmed Benali, Spokesperson for the Federation of National Transport and Logistics Associations
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Benali. The announcement to postpone the national strike scheduled for October 28 came as a surprise to many. Can you explain the rationale behind this decision?
Ahmed Benali: Thank you for having me. Yes, we decided to postpone the strike primarily out of respect for the visiting President of France. It’s important to maintain proper diplomatic relations and allow the government the space to engage in discussions that could benefit Morocco. We believed it wouldn’t be appropriate to disrupt the atmosphere during such an important official visit.
Editor: That’s understandable. However, the reasons for the protest remain pressing, correct? What specific demands are you still advocating for?
Ahmed Benali: Absolutely, our concerns are still very much valid. We are seeking more substantial support from the government for the road transport sector. We feel that the previous dialogues with former Minister Mohamed Abdel Jalil did not yield satisfactory results. Issues such as funding, regulatory support, and the overall status of the transport sector remain unresolved.
Editor: Can you elaborate on what kind of support the transport professionals are looking for specifically?
Ahmed Benali: Certainly. We are asking for enhanced financial assistance and better subsidies for transport companies, particularly in light of rising fuel costs and operational challenges. Additionally, we hope for clearer regulations that address our working conditions and establish more effective communication channels with the government.
Editor: Once the official visit concludes, what can we expect in terms of action from your association?
Ahmed Benali: Once the visit is over and given the ongoing problems we face, we will reassess our position. Should the government fail to respond adequately to our demands, we may have no choice but to revisit the idea of a strike or other forms of protest to make our voices heard.
Editor: Thank you, Mr. Benali, for your insights. We appreciate your time and hope for a constructive dialogue between your association and the government.
Ahmed Benali: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we continue working towards a solution that benefits everyone involved in the transport sector.
Sustainability of our operations remain unresolved. Additionally, we are pushing for the status of trucks weighing between 3.5 and 19 tons to be clarified, improvements to rest areas, and the acceleration of shipping statements and reference cost measurements.
Editor: It seems these issues have been ongoing for quite some time. You mentioned the shift from Minister Mohamed Abdel Jalil to Abd al-Samad Qiuh. How do you view this transition in leadership?
Ahmed Benali: We approach this change with cautious optimism. While Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has shown a willingness to understand our challenges and engage in dialogue, we hope that Minister Qiuh will continue this trend and actively address the pressing matters in our sector. It’s crucial for us that the new minister focuses on meaningful solutions rather than just the names behind the roles.
Editor: Given the importance of the issues, what steps will your federation take if your demands aren’t met in the coming weeks?
Ahmed Benali: If our concerns continue to be neglected, we’ll have no choice but to reconsider our position on the strike. We want to avoid disruption, particularly during diplomatic visits, but our needs must be addressed as well. The situation cannot remain stagnant, and we will advocate for our rights and the interests of our sector decisively.
Editor: Thank you, Mr. Benali, for your insights. It’s crucial that these issues are addressed for the sake of both the transport sector and the broader economy of Morocco.
Ahmed Benali: Thank you for having me. I appreciate the opportunity to share our perspective.
