Moroccan Food Industry Seeks Urgent Aid Amid COVID-19 Crisis

Gathered on Tuesday in Casablanca, these operators, represented by the various federations affiliated to the Moroccan Confederation of Food Trades (CMMB), have exposed their misfortunes following the containment measures and restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the pandemic, reports Map. Mohammed Rahal Essoulami, president of the CMMB and the Moroccan Federation of Caterers (FMT), stressed at this meeting the socio-economic importance of the catering sector which brings together several interdependent trades, all now exposed to the risks of bankruptcy and massive job losses.

30% of restaurants and cafes did not reopen after the lockdown, causing heavy financial losses in 2020 and job losses of around 10%, not to mention the wage cuts applied, particularly by certain franchises, in order to maintain their activity, said Mohamed Elfane, President of the Moroccan Federation of Franchise and Commerce (FMF), who did not overlook the serious economic and social consequences of the restrictive measures on franchisees, as the month of Ramadan approaches.

Also, Essoulami called for the rescue of this sector in agony for almost a year, the government authorities and private institutions involved, in order to limit the damage. And Elfane, in turn, wished for the rapid implementation of the sector’s program contract, emphasizing technical assistance, the development of digitization, as well as a public-private committee reflection to get the sector out of this bad patch.