Casablanca Factories Shut Down in Wake of Deadly Tangier Incident

This decision surprised the owners of these industrial units, as no prior notice had been sent to them, reports Assabah. This campaign to close down factories follows the tragedy in Tangier that caused the death of 28 people. The owner of a textile factory in Sidi Bernoussi, active since 2018, speaks of a correlation with this sad event, which takes into account neither the fate of the workers and their families, nor that of the company which is bound by commitments to its suppliers and customers.

"I have commercial exchanges with several foreign companies with which I have signed contracts that oblige me to pay fines in case of late delivery of goods. Moreover, this closure has prevented me from honoring an order from a French company which will cost me a penalty of 150,000 dirhams," he lamented.

The decision to close down small industrial factories thus threatens thousands of companies and tens of thousands of jobs. Owners who do not comply will be subject to sanctions, it is specified. Denouncing an abuse of authority by the public authorities, they intend to take the matter to court. They claim to have been operating legally for years. Moreover, their companies, they say, contribute to the development of Morocco through foreign exchange earnings.