HIBAPRESS – Rabat
A preliminary agreement between the government and the professionals of butane gas bottle distribution has brought an end to a crisis that threatened to paralyze the supply of the market, after a national strike, which was expected on April 21 and 22, was suspended.
This breakthrough came after a meeting that brought together representatives of the sector with government officials, during which a commitment was made to review the profit margin for the benefit of distributors, a demand that has been raised for a while in light of the increasing financial pressures on professionals. The gas distributors had threatened to go on a renewable strike, protesting the increase in operating costs, especially those related to transportation, maintenance, and wages, in addition to the impact of fuel price increases on the profitability of their activity. They confirmed at the time that the current situation no longer guarantees the continuity of work in balanced economic conditions. Despite the announcement of the temporary halt, the professional bodies were keen to keep the warehouses open to avoid any severe disruption in supplying citizens, indicating the sensitivity of this vital material in daily life. The new agreement, which was described by professionals as a first step towards calming the situation, reopened channels of dialogue between the two parties, with a view to reaching a formula that ensures the stability of the sector and the balance of interests of all stakeholders, without prejudice to the continuity of market supply.
