Morocco Extends COVID-19 Measures, Sparking Outrage Among Cafe and Restaurant Owners

Officials of the Association of Cafe Owners are angry. They cannot conceive that the government has extended the preventive measures against Covid-19 while the number of infection cases and deaths is declining, reports Al Akhbar. The Association points to a decision with unaccounted consequences that could provoke very serious social tensions.

The coordinator of the joint commission created by the catering professionals also points out that cafes and restaurants are going through a lean period. To the point that they find themselves unable to meet current expenses, pay employee salaries, rents and other operating costs. Current revenues in the sector struggle to reach 10% of the normal turnover.

Meanwhile, sector professionals are required to pay their taxes and fees. Something they deplore. The situation most affects employees whose income is mainly made up of "tips". The Association of Cafe and Restaurant Owners accuses the Ministry of Labor of not having been concerned about the evolution of the situation and the fate of tens of thousands of cafe and restaurant owners and hundreds of thousands of employees in the sector.

Sector professionals threaten to use tough protest means if the situation persists. They also plan to take their grievances to the royal cabinet, which they consider the last resort in the face of the government’s indifference.