(MENAFN- Morocco World News) Draft law 19.12 relating to domestic workers (maids) has been voted for on Monday establishing 16 as the minimum age for domestic workers.
After adoption of the law by the committee the bill will be voted in plenary the last stage before final adoption. Presented by the Minister for Employment Abdeslam Seddiki the law regulating the conditions of work and employment for domestic workers has been adopted by the Committee on social sectors seven of whom voted for the law while only two voted against. Those who voted against the measure argued that the minimum age should have been raised to 18 instead of the proposed age of 16. Human rights activists expressed their dissatisfaction with the adoption of the law. “At first glance most members seem to support us we were given promises but on Election Day there were surprises. We no longer understand” said Amina Gani member of the Collective for Labor Eradication. Gani and other activists have been calling “for the increase of the minimum working age [to] 18 years' stressing that the new law will have serious consequences on the status of “maids”. Giani who is calling for required schooling for children between the ages of 6 and 18 added that “I see a big schizophrenia in a minister who is said to be progressive advocates human rights and [votes] for such a bill' stressing that 'The place [for] a child is [in] school or in a training center.' In a 26 page long plea that was sent to the Committee before the day of vote the collective reminded them that a child remains a child until the age of 18 based on the Convention 182 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) that defines worst forms of child labor. Immediately after the most recent round of voting on the bill NGOs were quick to protest against maintaining the age of 16. The INSAF association posted on Facebook a statement protesting against the bill stating that it is a 'sad day for minor girls of our country! The Committee on Social Affairs adopted the text legalizing domestic work from 16.'
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