Morocco Cafes and Restaurants Cautious About Reopening Amid COVID-19 Restrictions

In a press release, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Green and Digital Economy had called on café and restaurant owners to resume their activities from Friday, May 29, but only for "take-out" services and home deliveries.

As requirements, the strict respect of the planned preventive and health rules, the cleanliness of the premises and work tools on a permanent daily program, adequate ventilation of the workplaces, the provision of hydroalcoholic gels and protective masks for their employees, the reduction of the size of the staff...

Noureddine Elharrak, president of the National Association of Café and Restaurant Owners of Morocco, says he is "surprised" by the ministry’s decision, because "the satisfaction of health safety conditions is not yet possible, as well as coronavirus screening tests." For him, the resumption of activities requires prerequisites, including a reflection on the impact of the health crisis on the sector.

Noureddine Elharrak talks about the accumulation of a debt suffered, "which amounts to millions." According to him, it is important to review the "legal arsenal" through "slight" amendments to the laws governing the sector, in particular the notice period which "should now extend over three months" and "taxes which alone cost 30% of the turnover".

"Recovery" takes time, but engaging in a debate with the government or rather the Economic Monitoring Committee (CVE) is a "necessary condition" before the full reopening of cafés and restaurants, he insists.