Opportunities and challenges of prison labor and rehabilitation in Morocco

The General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR) held on Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Rabat, a conference on Prison labor and rehabilitation of prisoners. The conference was held in partnership with several partners including the National Human Rights Council (CNDH).

The General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR) held on Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Rabat, a conference on Prison labor and rehabilitation of prisoners. The conference was held in partnership with several partners including the National Human Rights Council (CNDH).

The gathering was an opportunity to address the issue of prison labor from different perspectives. The participants discussed opportunities and the challenges of the work of prisoners, as a possible mechanism for rehabilitation.

Speaking on this occasion, CNDH President Driss El Yazami stressed that “inmates must enjoy all their rights”, expect the rights that they are deprived of by law. Prison labor may help prepare for their reintegration, he said.

To bear fruit, he added, the work of prisoners must comply with some fundamental principles, including compliance with the labor code, fair distribution of work, taking into account the needs of vulnerable groups (people with disabilities, women, foreigners ...), the right to remuneration, etc.

The conference highlighted the opportunities of prison labor, which may help reduce the negative effects of incarceration, improve the welfare of prisoners, and prepare them for professional reintegration. But this cannot happen without strict safeguards, including fair remuneration of prisoners, social protection, retirement benefits, compensation in case of work accident, etc.

This conference was also an opportunity to share and exchange on international experiences, particularly France’s. 

On the sidelines of this conference, the CNDH, the DGAPR, the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, and The Foundation Mohammed VI for the rehabilitation of prisoner signed a memorandum of understanding.

The MoU aims to establish a mechanism, in which all partners are represented, to evaluate, select, and follow-up on proposals from the different actors to implement a training-employment program for detainees.

It also aims to develop a framework agreement on the training and integration program for inmates, which will bring together the different stakeholders.