The minimum wage for textile and apparel workers in Morocco increased slightly in December as the final installment of an incremental raise planned for the sector.
According to textile industry association, AMITH (L’Association Marocaine des Industriels du Textile et de l’Habillement), the hourly minimum wage increased to 12.24 Moroccan dirhams (MAD) (US $1.48) from MAD 11.97 (US $1.45) as of December 1, 2013. With benefits factored in, workers can expect to make a total of MAD 15.13 (US $1.83) on average, just-style reported.
Morocco has been touted as a highly skilled and reliable sourcing location well positioned for trade with Europe and its textile industry has been steadily developing. The country has plans to accelerate growth and reposition itself as a leading player on both the regional and international level. Last year saw the installment of “Textile Plan 2025” under which Minister of Industry, Trade and New Technologies Abdelkader Amara said the North African nation plans to create 250,000 new jobs in the sector and export 85 billion dirhams (US$ 10.3 billion) in textile goods by 2025.
Inspection and testing leader SGS opened a new textile testing laboratory in Casablanca last August further improving testing capabilities and capacities in the country. The SGS lab will aid in strengthening Morocco’s apparel industry as manufacturers will be better equipped to meet buyer’s expectations and its presence could contribute to shortened production lead times. It is the first lab in the country to offer physical and chemical testing for a range of textile products.