Morocco:In solidarity with the 850 OCP workers suspended from work,

Moroccan Association for Human Rights

CENTRAL OFFICE.

Communiqué

In solidarity with the 850 SMESI workers suspended from work,
the MAHR is organizing a caravan of solidarity towards Khouribga
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (MAHR) followed with concern at both local and central levels the file developments of the 850 SMESI society employees who worked permanently since 2001 in this society belonging to the OCP Group.
In consequence of the suspension of all workers and their deprivation of their livelihood, their families, including their school-aged children, are reduced to degradation.
Though all Khouribga MAHR section efforts in cooperation with Moroccan Union of Workers trade union (UMT) leading the workers at the local level, and in spite of the great workers struggles, their sacrifices, and the MAHR Central office correspondences addressed to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Employment, the Minister of Energy and Mines and to OCP Director General, officials continued to ignore the workers claims which are mostly:
– The return to work of all suspended employees.
– Respect of liberties and trade union rights and the opening of a serious and responsible dialogue with workers delegates.
– The satisfaction of workers legitimate claims.
Taking into consideration the foregoing and the necessity of rescuing 850 families from a real social degradation, the MAHR central Office decided in cooperation with the local MAHR section to organize, on Sunday, September 13, 2009, a caravan towards Khouribga in solidarity with SMESI workers and their families under the slogan:
“No to the workers and their families degradation:
Total solidarity for the 850 SMESI workers legitimate rights”
The various components of the caravan leaving from different regions of Morocco will arrive at 01 pm in Khouribga.
The militant activities planned – in which will take part the caravan members, SMESI workers and their families, their trade-union and the citizens of the region who support their struggle - will finish at around 4.00 pm.
Considering the importance of solidarity to impose the SMESI employees return to work, the respect of their rights and the rescue of the 850 concerned families, the MAHR central Office called upon all democratic forces - political, trade union, human rights defenders, youth and women forces and various democratic associations - to participate in the caravan towards Khouribga and to activities planned for this opportunity in order to the success of this noble solidarity act.
He also calls upon the OCP Director General and the concerned authorities to open an urgent sincere and fruitful dialogue with workers delegates to put an end to the terrible social consequences of this conflict.

Rabat, September 08, 2009

The Central Office.

www.amdh.org.ma