Moroccan Taxi Drivers Face Exploitation Despite Government Fuel Aid

"We really don’t benefit from the government’s help. A month ago, I had to quit my job as a taxi driver because the owner imposed that we both contribute to pay the diesel for his taxi," a taxi driver in Salé confided to Hespress. According to his explanations, this owner with whom he has worked for several years announced to him, when distributing the first transfers he received the amount allocated by the government, but he still insisted that he pay half of the fuel costs.

"As soon as the owner started asking me, in addition to his share, to pay 50% of the fuel costs, I immediately left and looked for another person to work with without worrying about the costs I am not supposed to deposit," he added. The problem is very real. "Several drivers are facing the same problem. It’s as if the owners don’t know that we’re already in a more than delicate situation that we can barely manage," confirmed another taxi driver.

The president of the road hauliers’ union affiliated to the Moroccan Union of Labor (UMT) provides some clarification. "The problem is there, but it does not come from the owners of the permits who are not the direct beneficiaries of the support, since the majority of them, about 90%, have contracts with the users or owners of the taxis." According to him, the reason why it is the taxi owners who receive the allocation is that the vehicles are registered in their names.

He also admits that in general there are some owners who have not given the amount of support to the employed drivers who really deserve it. "In some cases, the owners demand that the drivers remain silent after they have expressed their discontent, threatening to fire them if they do not. Some drivers have actually filed complaints against these owners, but have ultimately been fired as well."