COVID-19 Pandemic Deepens Economic Challenges for Moroccan Women, Study Finds

These effects are reflected, among other things, by job losses. The experts first look at the situation of Moroccan women before the appearance of the coronavirus and make two observations. The first concerns the economic structure in a time marked by the economic recession and the decline of certain activities with a high rate of feminization of employment. The second deals with the trade-off between professional and domestic work, in articulation with all that is intrafamily negotiations, reservation wage and job-search strategies. To these observations are added the challenges imposed by the patriarchal nature of society.

They then address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the life of Moroccan women. "Like what is observed globally, women in Morocco are bearing the brunt of the fallout from the current health crisis. These repercussions manifest themselves at several levels, including employment and income, health, education, etc.," the study points out.

The experts point out that women in Morocco are overrepresented in the jobs that make up the first line of defense against Covid-19, in the sense that they represent, according to UN Women, 57% of medical personnel, 66% of paramedical personnel and 64% of social sector civil servants. In addition to dangerous work, it seems that this crisis is amplifying the effect on female employment.

The study concludes that beyond what is specific to women, meeting the challenge of job creation, particularly for women and young people, requires efforts at all levels, including human capital, the macroeconomic framework and the business environment, access to factors, including financing, the reconsideration of certain market institutions and the adequacy of the information system.