Moroccan Youth Alliance Fights Age Discrimination in Public Sector Recruitment
Rabat — The Moroccan Civil Alliance for Youth has sent an urgent letter to the Kingdom's Mediator Institution demanding action against what they call 'arbitrary exclusion' in public sector recruitment competitions.
The organization specifically challenges the age requirement to be 30 or 35 years for certain civil service entrance exams, particularly those for teaching positions.
According to multiple Moroccan media reports, the alliance argues these age restrictions 'deprive thousands of graduates from universities, colleges, and vocational training centers of their right to participate in these competitions.'
The letter also said that this practice worsens the 'intensified feelings of frustration and despair among young graduates after long years of study and professional training.'
The organization echoed Moroccan graduates' outrage at the age restriction in the public sector, saying that it goes against the government's efforts to invest in human capital. It added that the restriction hampers the integration of young talent into positions of responsibility.
The alliance's call argued that the age restriction disregards young people's abilities and skills, wasting qualified human resources, noting that this excludes young people from public service while keeping older officials in leadership positions across sensitive sectors.
The organization went on to consider that 'age-based exclusion contradicts Constitutional provisions, particularly Article 31, which establishes the principle of merit and equal opportunity, and Article 6, which guarantees non-discrimination.'
Read also: Age Restriction in Morocco's Teachers Recruitment Triggers Public Outrage
This practice, the NGO says, 'also violates public service law provisions, which set the maximum recruitment age at 45 years, as well as the statutes of several public institutions.'
The alliance further warned about other practices worsening youth employment prospects, such as 'imposing strict and restrictive conditions related to required master's degree specializations.'
According to the organization, this excludes graduates with similar qualifications to those requested, 'clearly violating principles of fairness and free competition.'
The alliance called on the Kingdom's Mediator Institution to take action against this age restriction 'to intervene with government and public authorities to ensure respect for the Constitution and law.'
They also advocate for serious dialogue with civil society organizations to achieve fair and lasting solutions that will enable broader youth participation in recruitment competitions without preliminary exclusion.
The organization requested a direct meeting with the Mediator Institution to present additional data on this issue, which 'directly affects young people's rights to access public service based on competence and merit, not discriminatory age criteria.'
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