The Morocco labour code is Law no. 65-99, promulgated by dahir no. 1-03-194 of 11 September 2003: its 589 articles set, among other things, a standard working time of 44 hours a week or 2,288 hours a year (Article 184), annual leave of one and a half days per month of service (Article 231), a seniority bonus of 5% to 25% (Article 350) and severance pay of 96 to 240 hours of salary per year of service (Article 53). It applies to anyone under an employment contract in industry, trade, agriculture, services and the liberal professions (Article 1). Since then, Organic Law no. 97-15 on the right to strike, published in the Bulletin officiel in March 2025, regulates strikes, and the minimum wage (SMIG) has been 17.92 DH an hour since 1 January 2026. Updated 4 November 2026.
In brief
- Text: Law no. 65-99, in force six months after publication in the Bulletin officiel (Article 589); consolidated version published by the Ministry of Justice.
- Structure: a preamble, a preliminary book and seven books.
- Working time: 44 hours a week, at most 10 hours a day when hours are spread over the year.
- Leave: 1.5 days per month, plus 1.5 days per five-year period of service, up to 30 days.
- Termination: valid reason, notice, severance, disciplinary hearing within 8 days.
- Time limit: two years for claims arising from the contract (Article 395).
Morocco labour code: main topics and articles
| Topic | Key rule | Articles |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Every employment contract, whatever the sector | 1 to 8 |
| Non-discrimination | Banned in hiring, pay, promotion and dismissal | 9, 12 |
| Probation | Permanent contract: 3 months managers, 6 weeks employees, 15 days workers, renewable once | 13, 14 |
| Employment and fixed-term contracts | Fixed-term limited to set cases, one year renewable once for a launch | 15 to 19 |
| Suspension | Illness, maternity, workplace accident, strike | 32 |
| Dismissal and notice | Valid reason, notice, severance, damages capped at 36 months | 34 to 75 |
| Maternity | 14 weeks of leave | 152 to 165 |
| Working time | 44 h a week, 2,288 h a year | 184 to 195 |
| Overtime | 25% or 50% premium, 50% or 100% on the rest day | 196 to 204 |
| Rest and public holidays | 24 h weekly rest, public holidays off | 205 to 230 |
| Annual leave | 1.5 days a month, 30 days at most | 231 to 268 |
| Special leave | Birth 3 days, marriage 4 days | 269 to 280 |
| Health and safety | Safety and hygiene committee from 50 employees | 281 to 344 |
| Pay | Seniority bonus, minimum wage, payment, payslip, payroll ledger | 345 to 395 |
| Representation | Delegates from 10 employees, works council from 50 | 396 to 474 |
| Employment | Hiring, foreign employees, retirement at 60 | 475 to 529 |
| Inspection and disputes | Labour inspectorate, conciliation, arbitration | 530 to 585 |
Employment contracts in the Morocco labour code
A contract can be for an indefinite term, a fixed term or a specific task (Article 16). A fixed-term contract is only allowed to replace an absent employee, cover a temporary increase in activity or for seasonal work, and when opening a business or site or launching a product, for one year renewable once (Article 17). See our pages on fixed-term contracts in Morocco and the probation period in Morocco.
If written, the contract is drawn up in two copies with certified signatures (Article 15). The employer issues a work card (Article 23) and tells the employee in writing, on hiring, their CNSS (national social security fund) number and their workplace accident insurer (Article 24). Formalities are on our page on employee registration in Morocco, contributions on CNSS contributions in Morocco and the filing portal on Damancom.
Morocco labour code: working time, rest and leave
44 hours a week and overtime
In non-agricultural work, standard time is 2,288 hours a year or 44 hours a week; in agriculture, 2,496 hours a year. The employer may spread annual hours as needed, without exceeding 10 hours a day (Article 184). Overtime carries a 25% premium between 6 am and 9 pm and 50% between 9 pm and 6 am, rising to 50% and 100% on the weekly rest day (Article 201). Employees are entitled to at least 24 hours of rest a week (Article 205). Details: overtime pay in Morocco, public holidays in Morocco in 2026 and time and attendance software in Morocco.
Paid leave, maternity and family events
After six months of service, employees earn 1.5 working days of leave per month (2 days for under-18s), plus 1.5 days per five-year period of service, up to 30 days (Articles 231 and 232). A pregnant employee is entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave (Article 152) and cannot be dismissed during pregnancy and the 14 weeks after birth (Article 159). Birth: 3 days (Article 269); the employee’s marriage: 4 days (Article 274). See leave management in Morocco and maternity leave in Morocco.
Pay in the Morocco labour code
Pay is set freely above the legal minimum (Articles 345 and 360). The 2026 minimum wage is 17.92 DH an hour (decree no. 2.25.983): see minimum wage Morocco 2026. Manual workers are paid at least twice a month, other employees at least once (Article 363). Each pay run produces a payslip (Article 370) and an entry in the payroll ledger, kept for two years (Articles 371 to 373). The seniority bonus in Morocco ranges from 5% to 25% (Article 350).
Tax and contributions are governed by other texts: see our pages on income tax on salary, AMO health insurance, CIMR pensions, the vocational training tax, the 9421 return, net salary calculation and payroll management in Morocco.
Termination under the Morocco labour code
Dismissal requires a valid reason linked to the employee’s ability or conduct, or to the company’s operational needs (Article 35). Serious misconduct is listed in Article 39. Before any sanction, the employee is heard within 8 days of the facts being established, assisted by a delegate or union representative (Article 62). Except for serious misconduct, ending a permanent contract requires notice (Article 43), with durations set by decree no. 2-04-469: see notice period in Morocco. After six months of service, severance pay is due (Articles 52 and 53): see severance pay in Morocco. Unfair dismissal gives rise to damages of one and a half months’ salary per year, capped at 36 months (Article 41). Resignation is in writing, with a certified signature (Article 34). Retirement age is 60 (Article 526).
Staff representation and workplace health in the Morocco labour code
- Staff delegates: mandatory in establishments with at least 10 permanent employees (Article 430).
- Works council: in companies with at least 50 employees (Article 464).
- Union representatives: one from 100 to 250 employees, two from 251 to 500, three from 501 to 2,000 (Article 470).
- Safety and hygiene committee: from 50 employees (Article 336); it investigates each workplace accident in Morocco (Article 340).
Morocco labour code: verified recent reforms
Organic Law no. 97-15 on the right to strike
Upheld by the Constitutional Court in March 2025, Organic Law no. 97-15 setting the conditions for exercising the right to strike was published in the Bulletin officiel on 24 March 2025 and came into force six months later, in September 2025. According to the Moroccan press, it requires 7 days’ notice in the private sector, reduced to 3 days in case of imminent danger, and bars employers from replacing strikers.
What has changed around the Code
- Minimum wage: 17.92 DH an hour from 1 January 2026, and the agricultural minimum (SMAG) at 97.44 DH a day from 1 April 2026 (decree no. 2.25.983).
- Workplace accidents: Law no. 27-23 of 2025 amended Law no. 18-12.
- Paternity leave: the 15 days adopted in 2022 apply to civil servants; in the private sector, Article 269 still provides 3 days.
Example: the rights of an employee with 8 years’ service
Take, as an illustration, an administrative employee on a base salary of 8,000 DH, hired eight years ago:
- Annual leave: 18 working days (1.5 × 12) plus 1.5 days for one full five-year period, or 19.5 days (Articles 231 and 232).
- Seniority bonus: 10%, or 800 DH a month (Article 350).
- Notice if dismissed: 2 months for an employee with more than five years (decree no. 2-04-469).
- Severance pay: 5 × 96 + 3 × 144 = 912 hours; at the usual hourly rate of 8,000 / 191 = 41.88 DH, about 38,198.95 DH (Article 53, base excluding the seniority bonus for simplicity).
To apply the Morocco labour code without errors across dozens of employees, an HRIS in Morocco brings contracts, leave, time and payroll together. See also HR software in Morocco, payroll software in Morocco, recruitment software in Morocco, performance management in Morocco, our payroll Morocco hub, Socium’s HR and payroll software for Morocco and our simulators.
Morocco labour code: frequently asked questions
Which law is the Morocco labour code?
Law no. 65-99, promulgated by dahir no. 1-03-194 of 11 September 2003. The consolidated text is published by the Ministry of Justice.
How many hours a week under the Morocco labour code?
44 hours a week or 2,288 hours a year in non-agricultural work (Article 184).
How many days of leave in Morocco?
1.5 working days per month of service, or 18 days a year, plus 1.5 days per five-year period, up to 30 days.
How long is the probation period?
On a permanent contract: 3 months for managers, 6 weeks for employees and 15 days for workers, renewable once (Article 14).
Was the Morocco labour code reformed in 2025 or 2026?
The Code itself has not been overhauled. Strikes are now governed by Organic Law no. 97-15 (2025), and the minimum wage rose on 1 January 2026.
What is the time limit for employment claims?
Two years for rights arising from the performance or termination of the contract (Article 395).
From how many employees are staff delegates required?
Ten permanent employees (Article 430); a works council is mandatory from 50 employees (Article 464).
Where can I read the official text?
On the Ministry of Justice’s Adala portal, which publishes the consolidated Labour Code (in French).
Key takeaways
- The Morocco labour code (Law 65-99) has 589 articles across a preliminary book and seven books.
- Benchmarks: 44 hours a week, 1.5 days of leave a month, a 5% to 25% seniority bonus, notice and severance of 96 to 240 hours per year.
- Since September 2025, strikes fall under Organic Law 97-15, upheld by the Constitutional Court in March 2025.
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