Morocco Cracks Down on ’Ghost Civil Servants’ to Revitalize Public Service

Concerned about the "ghost civil servants", those agents who are absent for months, even years, while continuing to receive their salary. Faced with the persistence of this phenomenon, the Moroccan authorities have decided to take a firm stand. The Ministry of the Interior is putting pressure on the walis and governors to put an end to this well-entrenched practice in certain local administrations, reports Assabah.

Fearing sanctions, several civil servants concerned, including spouses of senior officials, have been forced to resume their duties. Some are just content to be present. Others continue to be absent, preferring to stay at home or abroad. To put an end to these unjustified absences, the walis and governors have begun to send requests for explanation to the "ghost" agents, pending possible disciplinary sanctions that could go as far as suspension of salary or dismissal.

While the representatives of the ministry have managed to impose strict control, the situation remains unclear with regard to the presidents of provincial and municipal councils. Most of them do not know exactly the number of agents working under their orders, which makes the fight against absenteeism difficult, if not almost impossible. In some local authorities, the number of "ghost civil servants" is estimated to be several hundred. They benefit from the complicity of certain elected officials.

To put an end to this leniency that is costly to the State, the Ministry of the Interior has recently given more powers to the walis and governors, particularly in the area of human resources management. With this extension of powers, they can now supervise the assignments, appointments, promotions and all administrative procedures concerning local agents. This measure aims to better manage the staff, put an end to internal dysfunctions and improve the quality of public services.