13 June, 2023The collapse of sections of a building housing a textile factory in Casablanca, Morocco led to the death of six workers. The tragedy occurred on 8 June in the early hours of the morning, in the Tit Mellil industrial zone.
The accident occurred during ongoing construction work aimed to expand the building by adding four floors. Three of the victims worked for the building contractor and three were from the textile factory.
According to the Syndicat National des Travailleurs du Textile et du Cuir - SNTTC-UMT, the construction did not respect legal standards. SNTTC-UMT insist that the construction company should be held responsible for the accident due to lack of oversight. It is also the responsibility of the officials who granted authorization.
The Syndicat National de Textile Habillements et Cuirs - SNTHC-CDT stated that the factory lacks the minimum conditions of health and safety. The workers had to work despite the presence of a construction barn above the factory. SNTHC-CDT hold the authorities responsible for what happened. They allowed the factory owner to build additional floors in a building containing a factory without taking protective measures.
The SNTHC-CDT calls for the prosecution and accountability of those responsible for the tragedy. The union denounced the absence of oversight on the factory that did not respect health and safety conditions. The SNTHC-CDT has called for a national debate on occupational health and safety that brings together all stakeholders.
“Such a tragic accident was not the first of its kind. It was expected that there would be a reaction from the governments since the incident of the workers who drowned in Tangiers, but things remained the same. Frequent accidents require strict control,”
said Al-Arabi Hamouk, the general secretary of SNTTC-UMT
Ahmed Hassoun, general secretary of SNTHC-CDT expressed
“that it has become necessary to structure the sector and insure workers against hazards. Work must be done to review the reality of workers within the textile sector and to guarantee their rights. We call on the government to implement the global Accord agreement ACCORD”.
“This is an unacceptable tragedy that should never have happened. The garment industry must be made safe for the people who contribute to its enormous output. If government, factory owners and brands are really serious about stopping these accidents, we need an Accord program for Morocco. IndustriALL stands in solidarity with the victims and their families,”
said Atle Høie IndustriALL general secretary.