Survey: 72% of Private Companies Reject Government's Eid Holiday Decision

Morocco World

05-06-2025

Rabat – The Moroccan government's recent decision to declare Monday, June 9, a public holiday for Eid Al Adha has triggered widespread discontent among private companies.
A survey conducted by the HR-focused platform DRH.ma shows that 72% of private sector respondents oppose the move, citing operational pressure and legal ambiguity.
The decision applies exclusively to public administration and territorial collectivities, leaving private companies without a clear framework.
Many found themselves scrambling to respond to an unexpected situation, with HR departments forced to balance internal expectations, workflow continuity, and a complete absence of formal guidance.
The survey, conducted on June 2 and 3 and involving 143 respondents, reflects a general sense of unease within the private sector.
Nearly half of the HR professionals surveyed viewed the move as a sign of disregard for the particular constraints of private businesses.
For companies operating under tight delivery schedules or complex logistics, such a late decision created tension. A significant number also pointed to the announcement's timing as a problem, arguing that the lack of preparation time undermined stability within organizations.
By June 3, only 17% of companies had confirmed granting the holiday to their entire workforce.
Another 22% were considering it under certain conditions, such as ensuring service continuity or requiring employees to make up for the lost time. Meanwhile, 28% intended to maintain regular operations, and 32% were still undecided, just six days before the date in question.
The lack of a unified response across companies illustrated a deeper fragmentation in HR practices. With no clear recommendation from authorities or professional associations, companies responded based on internal culture, immediate pressures, and perceived risks.
Some leaned toward aligning with the public sector, while others prioritized production timelines or internal stability.
Among those choosing not to implement the holiday, the reasoning was largely operational.
Respondents cited staffing shortages, delivery obligations, and the difficulty of maintaining client relationships without sufficient personnel. Some feared a rise in spontaneous absenteeism, while others anticipated client dissatisfaction or workflow breakdowns.
Budgetary concerns, contrary to expectations, played only a minor role in decision-making according to the survey.
Most HR professionals pointed instead to the challenge of preserving performance under tight deadlines, particularly for SMEs and industrial businesses. For these firms, an unplanned day off could disrupt the value chain and delay output in ways that ripple beyond a single day.
The survey also shows dissatisfaction with the role, or lack thereof, played by major business organizations. Many felt that the decision should have come with clearer guidance. The General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) suggestion to treat June 9 as a day off 'where possible' was seen as insufficiently decisive, adding to confusion rather than resolving it.
A majority of HR managers expressed the need for stronger coordination mechanisms. Many called for formal frameworks that would regulate how exceptional public holidays are handled in the private sector.
Others proposed regular dialogue between business groups and public authorities to better anticipate the social and economic impact of such announcements.
The absence of consultation or clear policy direction has once again exposed the vulnerability of the private sector to abrupt government decisions.
While most HR professionals did not object to the principle of a holiday, they expressed a need for structure, foresight, and legal clarity, elements they saw as entirely missing from this decision. Tags: Al Adha holidayEid Al AdhaHolidayMorocco