Moroccan Crafts Crisis: 42 Traditional Trades Face Extinction Amid Pandemic

Due to the health crisis, several trades in the Moroccan crafts sector, particularly traditional crafts, are threatened with extinction. The drop in their income, the consumption of their savings, the accumulation of bills, constitute the lot of 2.5 million craftsmen, that is, 22% of the active population, reports Al Ahdath Al Maghribia. At the initiative of several parliamentary groups, this situation was the subject of attention during the session reserved for oral questions held on July 5 at the House of Representatives, in the presence of the minister in charge, who acknowledged, in her response to the deputies’ questions, that around forty trades risk being wiped off the map of trades in the sector in the kingdom.

The minister explained this situation by the difficulties that prevent the implementation of the government’s plans. The sector, not really structured, also faces competition from imported products, not to mention the difficulties in accessing financing, she said. Also, her department has decided to expand the list of criteria to improve the quality of products, in addition to other measures to preserve the 42 trades in the sector that are now threatened.

In this sense, 32 craft trades are now taught in vocational training courses, provided by the Vocational Training and Employment Promotion Office (OFPPT).