La CDT presenta un proyecto para regular el precio de los combustibles en Marruecos
The Democratic Confederation of Labour (CDT) has submitted to the Moroccan House of Councillors a draft law aimed at regulating fuel prices in the country. The union's plan for this reform would guarantee the security of the nation's market, as well as an improvement in quantity and quality. At the same time, prices will be set in line with the consumers' stock exchange, which would bring about a dramatic improvement in the national economy.
To this end, the organisation has discussed before the House the improvements that its implementation would bring to the Kingdom. The CDT has reflected on the last law in this area, enacted on 30 June 2014, about which they say it needs urgent reform as time has shown the limits it had in this matter, in addition to the fact that the union defends that this measure has never protected the interests of consumers against speculation in fuel prices.
The Confederation has emphasised this point, pointing it out as one of the biggest problems in this matter, since for them fuel distributors have taken advantage of the lack of competition in the hydrocarbon market, and over the years have fixed unaffordable prices. This also ensures that the effects have had repercussions on transport costs, the price of materials for the agricultural sector, and, above all, on the basic products purchased by citizens.
Another key point during that session was the recommendation by the CDT to remove fuels from the list of liberalised products. If this were to become a reality, it would give power to the competent authorities in this sector, which would better regulate the price of fuels in conjunction with petroleum products.
Therefore, the union has suggested to the Ministry of Economy and Finance to fix the prices every week, in particular, every Monday at midnight, the maximum selling price will have to be communicated to the country, according to the cost of living of the population. It is also proposed that they set up a system to monitor any infringements that may occur and, if they do occur, to impose the corresponding sanctions.
The Progress and Socialism Party (PPS), which is part of the Kingdom's parliamentary group, submitted a similar proposal to the House of Representatives at the end of December. The PPS also called for the improvement of fuel prices, as well as the adoption of systems for the improvement and quality of fuel and its distribution.
The Democratic Confederation of Labour - La Confédération démocratique du travail, its original name - was founded with the aim of improving the situation of the Moroccan working class, according to its website. It is a trade union, originally affiliated with the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) party, but today it is part of the Ittihadi National Congress, a member party of the Federation of the Democratic Left. The organisation was founded in 1978 and since then has not stopped fighting for the rights of Moroccans.
Its tasks are mainly divided into encouraging initiatives in the Kingdom, mobilising the labour masses against over-exploitation, preserving social achievements and various social struggles such as women's equality, among other issues. Since its beginnings, it has participated in mass strikes that had a great impact in Morocco in the 80s and 90s, and there, this union started to take power in the country. One of its main projects is the equality and 50-50 plan, in which it fights for women's equality.
