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COVID-19 Crisis Deepens Economic Divide in Morocco, Survey Reveals
Tuesday 9 June 2020, by
The crisis related to the coronavirus has already cost Morocco 1 billion DH, the equivalent of an entire year’s budget, according to an assessment by the Minister of Economy, Finance and Administrative Reform.
In addition to the kingdom’s debts, a large part of the losses directly weigh on the poorest families. According to Sunergia surveys for L’Économiste, the situation has clearly worsened and even tends to accelerate. Due to the lockdown, the poorest families without income are the most affected at 44.3%, while the middle class is affected at 26.2%.
However, it is likely that the pandemic has undermined the policy of developing the middle classes. Workers and craftsmen are the most affected by the loss of their income, at 54.2%. Laborers and agricultural workers follow at 46.1%, and merchants at 47.4%. Forced to dip into their savings, the self-employed and craftsmen are most at risk of being impoverished, even if they receive financial or food aid. According to L’Économiste, they will need a lot of time to rebuild the stocks and capital of their activities.
In addition, the acquisition of the recommended products to fight the virus further impoverishes households. According to several people interviewed, the latter would not have enough means to supply themselves with masks, disinfectant, detergent.
Yet one in five families received aid (Ramed or CNSS) at the time of the survey, but all say it is difficult to obtain this right, adds the same source.