Morocco will return to GMT on Sunday, 20 September, ending the use of GMT+1, according to a government decree. Clocks will be turned back by 60 minutes at 02:00, restoring the country’s legal time.
The government approved the measure at its weekly meeting. The decree provides for the permanent removal of the additional hour and the return to legal time from 20 September.
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said the decision responded to a widely expressed demand from Moroccans. He said he had held several meetings with members of the governing coalition to discuss requests submitted to the government.
The main demand was the permanent removal of the additional hour, which has faced criticism from citizens who said it affected their health and daily routines.
The return to GMT follows years of opposition to the permanent use of GMT+1 and is expected to bring relief to families who say the change will better fit their daily lives.
