Stranded Moroccan Farm Workers in Corsica Await Repatriation Amid Travel Ban

"They are more than downcast, they want to return to their families," testifies Ange Maestrini, a clementine producer in Antisanti, who welcomes several dozen Moroccan agricultural workers each year - 19 of whom are blocked on his farm in Corsica - for contracts covering a period of two to six months. "They are a bit angry, especially against the Moroccan authorities, because they can see that we, on our side, are doing everything possible to try to bring them back home," sighs the producer. The Haute-Corse prefecture confirms. "We had planned two flights to transport them: a first one on January 11, which could not take off, and a second one on January 19," which is not assured, indicates François Ravier, prefect of Haute-Corse, to France info.

The prefecture is also looking into their legal status. At the end of their contract since the end of December, their situation is "transitional" and not irregular: "as soon as we learned that the first flight would not be possible, a national procedure was worked on and consulted, so that these seasonal workers who cannot return home can benefit from a temporary residence permit (APS)," assures the official, adding that this permit may, on a case-by-case basis, be accompanied by a work permit, after studying the needs reported by the sectors.

What about the housing of these Moroccan seasonal workers? "Today, producers are no longer required to house these people. But according to the exchanges I have had with them, they will continue to do so while waiting for a solution to be found," assures François Ravier. "It’s the least we can do," agrees Ange Maestrini. The 19 workers awaiting return are housed "under the same conditions" within his farm "as during their work period."