The expectations, expressed by some of the Moroccans of the world (MDM), relate to several aspects. In order to know them better, with a view to remedying them, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) requested, from October 8 to 29, 2022, the contribution of MDMs through its Ouchariko platform, via a questionnaire published in seven languages. . 4,651 MDMs answered the questionnaire and the number of interactions reached 91,520. Update on the results of this consultation relating to the situation of MDMs, their perceptions and their expectations.
Ahmed Reda Chami, president of the ESEC, pleads for a renewed governance of public policies and mechanisms dedicated to Moroccans of the world (MDM). “Given the weak coordination and convergence between the institutions responsible for MDMs”, the ESEC recommends assigning to a minister delegate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad (MRE), responsible for MDM affairs, the mission and responsibility for designing and ensuring the proper implementation of the MDM strategy”, he indicated during the presentation of the conclusions of a Council opinion, entitled “Strengthening the intergenerational link between the MDMs and Morocco, the opportunities and the challenges”. For his part, Fouad Ben Seddik, member of the Council, said that the consultation demonstrated that Moroccans, wherever they live in the world, are very attached to the sustainability of ties with their country of origin. But their aspirations are changing.
Financial transfers amounted to 93.7 billion dirhams in 2021
Important figures. Transfers from Moroccans around the world reached an amount of 93.7 billion dirhams in 2021, or 7.3% of GDP. Their evolution has experienced, throughout the last decade, a sustained growth rate of around 6% per year (from 57.4 billion dirhams in 2014 to 93.7 billion dirhams in 2021, with a forecast of 100 billion dirhams in 2022). The majority of the money transferred is intended for aid to families in Morocco. Less than 2% of transfers would go to investment projects, including 40.7% to the real estate sector. The positive aspects of these transfers are their contribution to improving schooling and access to healthcare, as well as to reducing poverty and social inequalities.
Among the recommendations of the ESEC, with regard to this component, is the need to actively open the Mohammed VI Fund for investment to contributions from MDMs or to set up an investment fund dedicated to them, and this, with the aim of devoting part of these resources to activities having a positive, social and environmental impact as well as to the social and solidarity economy. The ESEC also recommends the reduction of transfer prices, at the time of transmission and reception. It is also a question of developing multi-channel complementarity to accommodate MDM transfers and accelerate banking digitalization for their benefit as well as for all citizens.
12,000 MDM incarcerated
The main findings noted by the study relate to the needs in terms of legal, judicial and social protection, due to the transformations in the nature of Moroccan migration. The most vulnerable categories are essentially people without a residence permit or whose residence permits have expired. It should be noted in this context that nearly 12,000 MDM are imprisoned in the host countries. Mention should also be made of unaccompanied minors – whose number, in Europe, is between 15,000 and 20,000 – as well as migrant Moroccan women, seasonal agricultural workers, who represent more than 70% of the total workforce. Faced with this dismal observation, the ESEC recommends ensuring better protection of the rights and dignity of this category of the population, dedicating sufficient human and financial resources to them, while setting up mechanisms for reinforced access and by improving the visibility of existing devices. It also insists on training, accompaniment and support for women in the pre-migration phase in Morocco and in the countries of residence. Lastly, it calls for information on the networks of irregular migrants and unaccompanied minors to be made accessible to consular services.
Fragile social coverage
In the register of social protection, we can also note several drawbacks. Among these, the fragility of the social coverage of MDMs (due to the discontinuity of their contribution periods) as well as the portability of rights – in the event of temporary or permanent return to Morocco – which is not automatic, binding certain MDMs to postpone the date of their return to the country. It should be noted, in this regard, that Morocco is a signatory to 19 bilateral social security conventions, 16 of which have been ratified and are in force. In this sense, the ESEC recommends engaging in a dialogue with host countries to update or widen the scope of bilateral social security agreements in order to alleviate the conditions that hinder the access of MDMs to their rights to pension and care, when they return to Morocco, or when they are passing through. It also calls for the design of a health insurance offer for ascendants and a voluntary retirement insurance offer for MDMs, together with tax incentive provisions.
Kenza Aziouzi / ECO Inspirations