General Union of Moroccan Workers

The General Union of Moroccan Workers, commonly known by the acronym UGTM, is a national trade union center in Morocco. It was established on March 20, 1960, and developed from a labor movement with particularly strong roots among Morocco’s agricultural workers. Over time, its membership and organizational scope extended beyond agriculture to include employees in public services and private-sector workplaces. UGTM functions as a representative labor organization rather than as a commercial product brand. Its principal activities include organizing workers, representing employee interests, participating in labor relations, and articulating positions on social and economic policy. The organization is one of Morocco’s national trade union federations and has taken part in wider debates over employment conditions, labor rights, and social reform. The union’s historical profile has often been described as comparatively moderate or less militant than that of some other Moroccan labor federations. This characterization does not mean that UGTM remained outside national political and social debates. During the reform demands that emerged in Morocco in the 1990s, the organization participated in calls for change and in broader discussions concerning workers’ rights and institutional reform. UGTM has maintained an international labor connection through its affiliation with the International Trade Union Confederation. That affiliation places the Moroccan organization within a wider global trade union network and provides an institutional framework for international labor cooperation. The union has been led by a succession of senior figures since its founding. Hachem Amine served as its first listed leader from 1960 to 1964. He was followed by Abderrazak Afilal Alami Idrissi, who held the leadership for more than four decades, until January 2006. Mohamed Benjelloun Andaloussi then served until December 2008, followed by Abdelhamid Chabat from 2009 to 2012. Mohamed Kafi Cherrat served first in an interim capacity after September 2012 and was subsequently elected in October 2014. Enaam Mayara became leader in May 2017 and is identified in the reference material as the current head. The available reference material does not establish a precise headquarters location, current membership figure, detailed sectoral structure, or a complete account of UGTM’s present-day programs. A Wikipedia-based description reports membership of approximately 695,000, but the date and methodology of that figure are not specified. Accordingly, it is best treated as a historical or reference-period estimate rather than a current verified membership total. UGTM remains an active Moroccan trade union center, but additional primary-source material would be needed to document its current leadership, membership, campaigns, and institutional activities in greater detail.

The General Union of Moroccan Workers was formed on March 20, 1960, as a national labor organization in Morocco. Its early identity was closely associated with agricultural workers, reflecting the importance of agricultural employment in the country and the union’s initial social base. The organization later broadened its representation to include workers in public institutions and private-sector enterprises. UGTM’s leadership history began with Hachem Amine, who headed the organization from its formation until 1964. Abderrazak Afilal Alami Idrissi succeeded him and remained in the leadership for more than forty years, serving until January 29, 2006. Mohamed Benjelloun Andaloussi then led the union until December 4, 2008. Abdelhamid Chabat assumed the leadership on January 30, 2009, and remained in office until September 23, 2012. Following Chabat’s departure, Mohamed Kafi Cherrat served as interim leader from September 2012. He was elected to the position on October 12, 2014, and continued until May 7, 2017. Enaam Mayara became leader on May 7, 2017, and is listed in the available reference material as the current head of UGTM. In assessments of Morocco’s trade union movement, UGTM has historically been regarded as less militant than some competing labor federations. Its role nevertheless extended beyond workplace representation. During the reform demands of the 1990s, the union participated in wider calls for political and social reform. This placed it within the broader national labor movement while retaining its comparatively moderate institutional profile. UGTM’s international position is reflected in its affiliation with the International Trade Union Confederation. The relationship connects the Moroccan federation to an international network concerned with labor rights, trade union representation, and worker protections. A reference description reports membership of 695,000, although it does not identify the precise date or counting method. The figure should therefore not be interpreted as a current verified total. Publicly available reference material also provides limited information about the union’s internal structure, current campaigns, headquarters, finances, or detailed sector-by-sector membership. The organization is nonetheless described as a national Moroccan trade union center with continuing representation across agricultural, public, and private employment.

• 2017

  Enaam Mayara becomes leader

  [1]General Union of Moroccan Workersen.wikipedia.org

  Enaam Mayara assumes leadership of the union on May 7, 2017.

• 2014

  Mohamed Kafi Cherrat is elected

  [1]General Union of Moroccan Workersen.wikipedia.org

  Mohamed Kafi Cherrat is elected head of UGTM on October 12, 2014.

• 2012

  Mohamed Kafi Cherrat becomes interim leader

  [1]General Union of Moroccan Workersen.wikipedia.org

  Mohamed Kafi Cherrat takes interim leadership after September 2012.

• 2009

  Abdelhamid Chabat assumes leadership

  [1]General Union of Moroccan Workersen.wikipedia.org

  Abdelhamid Chabat becomes head of the union on January 30, 2009.

• 2006

  Leadership passes to Mohamed Benjelloun Andaloussi

  [1]General Union of Moroccan Workersen.wikipedia.org

  After Abderrazak Afilal Alami Idrissi’s long tenure, Mohamed Benjelloun Andaloussi becomes head of UGTM on January 29.

• 1964

  Abderrazak Afilal Alami Idrissi begins leadership

  [1]General Union of Moroccan Workersen.wikipedia.org

  Abderrazak Afilal Alami Idrissi succeeds Hachem Amine as head of the union.

• 1960

  UGTM is established

  [1]General Union of Moroccan Workersen.wikipedia.org

  The General Union of Moroccan Workers is formed on March 20, 1960, with historical roots among Morocco’s agricultural workers.

A national Moroccan trade union center with historical roots in agricultural labor and representation across agricultural, public-sector, and private-sector employment. Its historical profile is generally characterized as comparatively moderate within Morocco’s trade union landscape.

1. 1General Union of Moroccan Workersen.wikipedia.org
2. 2UGTM official websiteugtm.ma