Moroccan Seasonal Workers Stranded in France Seek Repatriation Amid COVID Restrictions

"About fifty or sixty Moroccans came under a four-month contract to work in apple and other fruit harvests. What they earned in four months, they are wasting and will return home with nothing," says Abderrahmane El Alaoui, president of the Union of Merchants of Bellefontaine (UCB) in Toulouse, to H24info.ma. They are facing difficulties in returning to Morocco due to health restrictions. "We don’t know who to turn to and most of these people are illiterate. I don’t understand why there is no initiative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or other authorities to repatriate these people," he laments.

After the suspension of flights to and from Morocco on November 29, only special flights subject to authorization are operated. Last week, the Moroccan authorities authorized the repatriation of Moroccans, as well as their spouses and children residing in the kingdom and who left the territory on October 1. These seasonal workers are not covered by this measure, as they had gone to France in August. As a result, it is difficult for them to obtain a repatriation flight. Some of them have tried to travel by car from Toulouse to Lisbon. Without success. "They were turned away," regrets Abderrahmane El Alaoui.

Other steps have also been taken. "We also contacted four consulates, two in Marseille, and those in Montpellier and Toulouse. They told us they had taken the necessary steps with their hierarchy. For the moment, we have no visibility," he continues.