Morocco’s Cafe and Restaurant Industry Struggles to Recover Amid COVID-19 Restrictions

Since the resumption of activities in this sector, after three long months of confinement, owners, managers and employees have lost all hope, particularly with the imposition of restrictive measures to counter the spread of the coronavirus, reports La Map. As a result, the number of customers has seen a sharp decline. This situation has led to a reduction in staff, sending several breadwinners into unemployment.

At 46, Hamid, a waiter in a neighborhood cafe, is struggling to feed his family of five since the resumption of activities. According to him, during the prosperous period, customers flocked in and were quite generous. He could forget a salary of 3,000 DH, the fortnight, and enjoy the 300 DH in tips that customers often gave him. Thus, he could make ends meet and treat himself. "Before the pandemic, we were used to receiving dozens of customers a day, the coffee machine never stopping," he recalls.

For the president of the National Association of Cafe and Restaurant Owners of Morocco, Nourredine Elharrak, it is urgent to put in place a "serious" recovery plan. According to him, most establishments are unable to cover their usual expenses, particularly due to accumulated debts and taxes. Some cafes make sales that do not exceed 1,000 DH. According to this establishment manager, the government is being called upon to solve these problems they often face. They are calling on the government to reschedule the debts in favor of the owners.