Marrakech Hotels Pay Staff Despite COVID-19 Closures, Seek Financial Aid

"It is in difficult times that it is important to speak from the heart and show solidarity," observed a Marrakech hotelier. Kabir Ali Rahimi, a hotel owner, said he had put his staff on three-month leave, while committing to pay them their full salaries. To meet these expenses, he had to take out a bank loan.

This is why, through a letter addressed to the Ministry of Finance, Kabir Ali Rahimi proposes that for companies that pay salaries, banks grant interest-free loans or with a maximum interest rate of 2%, repayable over 24 months to those who apply for them. This will allow them to get through the period of scarcity due to the coronavirus pandemic, reports L’Economiste. He thinks that the option of 2,000 DH from the CNSS is much more suitable for independent hoteliers. Because, it will put the fund and employees who will lose a large part of their salaries in difficulty.

As an example, he mentioned the case of the Accor group which has set up an all Heartist Fund, which will be funded by 25% of the shareholders’ dividends. All for an amount of 70 million euros intended for the health care of 300,000 employees and collaborators of the Group who do not have social security coverage. The Fund must come to the aid of these employees and partners in great financial difficulty due to technical unemployment, taking into account the specifics of each case.