Morocco Faces Potential Second Lockdown as COVID-19 Cases Surge, Threatening SMEs

In less than a month, Morocco has recorded more than 28,000 confirmed cases. Much more than it counted in five months. With the strengthening of preventive measures, the closure of certain cities, beaches, the possibility of a second lockdown is emerging.

But for Ahmed Afilal El Alami Idrissi, SMEs and VSEs are struggling to recover from the repercussions of the lockdown that lasted nearly four months. They will not be able to survive another lockdown. "A second lockdown would sound the death knell for a good number of companies, which would be forced to go into bankruptcy and lay off their staff," he said. He called on business leaders to ensure that the established measures and rules are respected in order not to suffer the disastrous consequences of a new lockdown.

During his interview, the president of the UGEP also mentioned the professions that have disappeared because of the Covid-19 pandemic. These are mainly jobs related to tourism and those that arise from the frequentation of beaches. The situation is becoming worrying and the UGEP has made many proposals to the government to get SMEs and VSEs out of the impasse. The proposals revolve around the implementation of financial instruments that can allow these companies to regain the path to growth, specifies the same source.