2023-10-06 14:10:17
The charter from Casablanca landed at Bastia-Poretta airport on Friday October 6. This is not a commercial flight like any other: it was taken care of by the clementine sector of Haute-Corse, just like the five other planes expected in the coming days. Between 1,100 and 1,200 Moroccans will travel to the clementine farms in the eastern plain of the island, to work there until March.
“We have no other choice”
In the airport hall, handshakes continue between the workers, most of them young men, and the producers. “They are regulars. We have to call on them because from year to year we don’t find anyone on the territory”indicates Vincent Marcadal, clementine producer at Aléria.
Vincent Marcadal’s operation will benefit from 24 workers. Among them, Abas. He comes from the Moroccan town of Taza. “I’ve been coming for 20 years!” proudly specifies the oldest seasonal worker. “Sometimes it’s hard to be separated from your family. But we like coming back here, there is a good relationship with our bosses, between comrades, all with pretty landscapes”ajoute Sahli.
Moroccan seasonal workers have a temporary residence permit valid until March. © Radio France – Louison Leroy
SMIC contracts with obligation to leave
After having obtained temporary residence permits, seasonal workers, housed, fed and paid the minimum wage, are required to leave at the end of their contract. “Controls are hyper vigilant between the AOP, the Immigration Office, the national integration platform”assures Vincent Marcadal. “And we are very happy to welcome them next year”he continues.
The clementine harvest is expected to be less good than last year: the industry expects a drop in production of between 2000 and 3000 tonnes.
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