Pension funds reform in Morocco: a major union urges participatory approach'

Rabat - The Moroccan union of labour (UMT), one of the major labour unions in the Kingdom, called on the government to adopt a participatory approach in its pension funds reform plan .

UMT secretary-general Miloudi Moukharik who was speaking Tuesday during a meeting at the headquarters of MAP in Rabat, highlighted his organization proposals for reforming pension funds, noting that UMT supports a "voluntary increase" of retirement age to 65 while taking into consideration the arduous nature of work.

Commenting on the government's plan to increase employees' contributions to pension funds, the union official said his organization is not against this measure as long as the employee's contribution does not exceed 1/3 of the overall contribution (employer/state), adding that UMT will reject any plan to lower pensions.

Moukharik further called for the establishment of a pension systems higher authority including all actors (government, unions and economic partners) as a means to strengntening institutional mechanisms of social dialogue.