Marokko führt neue Beschäftigungsprogramme ein

Morocco re-launches employment schemes

Two years after new employment programmes were announced in Morocco, they are finally ready for launch.

The "Taatir" scheme for jobless graduates has entered its trial phase, Moroccan Employment Minister Abdeslam Seddiki told Magharebia last Friday (June 13th).

Some 10,000 unemployed people are set to benefit from the programme by 2016, the minister said.

More than 2,000 young people with degrees have already been trained as "academic managers", so that they can get work in private schools, Seddike noted.

Another project, "Moubadara", focuses on providing youth employment within civil society organisations. The government is expected to make the necessary legislative changes in order for associations to recruit young people, political analyst Jamal Farhani said.

Work at these associations represents a significant prospect of recruitment for young graduates into the workforce, provided the government provides the necessary training, he said.

"The government now only has two and a half years before it reaches the end of its mandate. It must take action to fulfil its commitments, particularly the introduction of the new employment programmes and the reduction of unemployment to 8%," Farhani added.

The government is also working to adapt existing projects, such as Moukalawati, to the present labour market.

Another measure under consideration is redundancy pay, which would assist young unemployed people suffering financial hardship and living in remote areas.

Young people say they are eager to see the government fulfil its promises. "It's time for all the talk and promises to be turned into concrete action," 28-year-old economics graduate Karim Dahibi said.

"I've been unemployed for four years now, and I hope to see a favourable outcome soon," he told Magharebia.

For his part, business management graduate Ismail Chaoui, 24, hopes to become involved in civil society.

"I do voluntary work for various associations. I'd love to be able to work in that field as part of the forthcoming 'Moudabara' programme. But so far, nothing concrete has come out of it," he said.