In the wake of three factory fires in Morocco caused by unsafe practices, IndustriALL Global Union and its local affiliate, Syndicat National de Textile Habillements et Cuirs (SNTHC-CDT),are urging the country’s government to work with the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry.
The unions would like to see Morocco’s government to set up a worker safety program to prevent future incidents. In recent weeks, textile factory fires in Fez, Casablanca and Tangier led to the death of one worker and severe burns for others. The fires were caused by unsafe practices such as use of gas-fired boilers, putting a spotlight on inadequate safety conditions in the nation’s textile sector.
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Last month, SNTHC-CDT launched a campaign to address subpar working conditions and safety protocols, calling for stakeholders to come together to work out a strategy for solving the problem. On Nov. 29, the union met with Morocco’s Ministry of Labor, as well as secretary of state Hicham Sabri, to discuss improving safety for textile workers.
“The meeting was positive as the ministry took note of SNTHC-CDT’s request to hold a national debate bringing together all stakeholders in the sector,” said SNTHC-CDT general secretary Ahmed Hassoun. “We also informed the minister about the Accod agreement and stressed the importance of its implementation in Morocco.”
As a result of the meeting, the Ministry of Labor organized a meeting with representatives of Accord, IndustriALL and SNTHC-CDT to further discuss the possibilities of implementing the the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry in Morocco.
The delegation laid blame on employers who refuse to adhere to health and safety laws while also raising concerns about underground textile operations and the inhumane working conditions in their facilities. Representatives from the unions urged the Ministry of Labor to develop protocols for implementing effective safety and health measures in textile manufacturing facilities.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of such frequent accidents in the sector in Morocco,” said IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie. “We welcome the results of the meeting between the minister and the SNTHC-CDT, which is part of the union’s ongoing efforts and initiatives to address such a serious situation.”
With the ongoing growth of Morocco’s textile industry (the country’s apparel market is estimated to be $2.63 billion in 2024 and projected to grow by 2.87 percent annually, according to Statista) Høie said the nation needs to act quickly to prevent another tragedy.
“Time is not on our side. We need stronger actions,” he said. “An agreement to bring the International ACCORD to Morocco would be a big step in the right direction.”
